HAVING REGARD to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, in particular Article 109 and Protocol 1 thereof,

HAVING REGARD to the Agreement between the EFTA States on the Establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of Justice, in particular Article 5(2)(d) and Protocol 1 thereof,

HAVING REGARD to the Act referred to at point 4.1.5 of Chapter I of Annex I to the EEA Agreement Council Directive 91/67/EEC of 28 January 1991 concerning the animal health conditions governing the placing on the market of aquaculture animals and products, as adapted by way of Protocol 1 to the EEA Agreement, in particular Article 5 of that Act,

WHEREAS Norway, by letter dated 3 May 1994, submitted the appropriate justifications for granting, as far as infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN) and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) are concerned, the status of approved zone its territory, as well as the national rules ensuring compliance with the conditions to be respected for maintenance of the approved status,

WHEREAS Norway, by Decision of the Authority No 71/94/COL of 27 June 1994, was recognised as approved continental and coastal zone for fish with regard to IHN and VHS,

WHEREAS the Authority, by Decisions No 220/96/COL of 4 December 1996, No 159/98/COL of 25 June 1998 and No 244/02/COL of 11 December 2002, amended Decision No 71/94/COL of 27 June 1994,

WHEREAS, by Decision No 71/94/COL as last amended by Decision No 244/02/COL of 11 December 2002, it was established that the parts of Norway referred to in the Annex to that Decision were recognised as approved continental zone and as approved coastal zone for fish with regard to IHN and VHS,

WHEREAS on 26 November 2007 an outbreak of VHS was confirmed in Møre og Romsdal County in Norway,

WHEREAS the competent authority in Norway has informed the Authority of the measures taken to eliminate the disease and to prevent its spread,

WHEREAS, the Authority has assessed the information submitted to it by the competent authority in Norway,

WHEREAS it appears, at this stage, that the measures taken are appropriate,

WHEREAS the Authority has discussed the matter with the European Commission,

WHEREAS no changes have occurred in Norway with regards to IHN,

WHEREAS it is the opinion of the Authority that Norway, with the exemption of the areas referred to in the Annex, should still be recognised as approved continental zone and approved coastal zone for fish with regard to IHN and VHS,

WHEREAS the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the EFTA Veterinary Committee assisting the EFTA Surveillance Authority,