Commission Decision of 12 December 2008 implementing Council Directive 2006/88/EC as regards requirements for quarantine of aquaculture animals (notified under document number C(2008) 7905) (Text with EEA relevance) (2008/946/EC)

ANNEX I Minimum conditions for quarantine facilities

PART A Construction and equipment conditions

1. The quarantine facility must be a premise which is separated from other quarantine facilities, other farms or other mollusc farming areas, by a distance specified by the competent authority on the basis of a risk assessment which takes into account the epidemiology of the relevant listed disease(s). However, a quarantine facility may be located within a farm or mollusc farming area.

2. The quarantine units must be constructed in such a way that water exchanges amongst them are not possible. In addition, the water outlet system of each quarantine unit must be designed to prevent any possible cross-contamination amongst quarantine units or other units of the same farm or mollusc farming area.

3. The water supply of the quarantine units must be free of the relevant listed disease(s).

4. When the draining system of the quarantine units is located in a Member State, zone, compartment or third country or part thereof declared free of a listed disease(s) or subject to a surveillance or eradication programme with regard to a listed disease(s), it must have an effluent treatment system approved by the competent authority. The effluent treatment system must:

(a)

treat all effluents and wastes generated within the quarantine unit in a manner that effectively inactivates the infectious agent responsible for the relevant listed disease(s);

(b)

be equipped with fail-safe backup mechanisms to ensure continous operation and complete containment.

5. The quarantine units must be constructed in such a way that the contact with other animals likely to spread the relevant listed disease(s) is prevented.

6. All equipment must be constructed in such a way that it can be cleansed and disinfected and appropriate equipment must be available for cleansing and disinfection.

7. Hygiene barriers have to be installed at all entrances/exits to the quarantine facility and to its different units.

8. Each quarantine unit of the quarantine facility must have its own equipment in order to avoid cross contamination amongst the different quarantine units.

PART B Management conditions

1. The aquaculture production business operator of the quarantine facility must secure, by contract or legal instrument, the services of an approved qualified aquatic animal health professional.

2. For each consignment of aquaculture animals quarantined:

(a)

the quarantine unit must be cleansed and disinfected and then kept free from aquaculture animals for at least seven days before the introduction of a new consignment;

(b)

the quarantine period shall only start when the last aquaculture animals of the consignment are introduced.

3. Appropriate measures shall be taken to prevent cross-contamination between incoming and outgoing consignments.

4. No unauthorised persons may enter the quarantine facility.

5. Persons entering the quarantine facility must wear protective clothing including footwear.

6. No contacts between personnel or equipment, which may cause contamination between quarantine facilities or quarantine units or between quarantine facilities and farms or mollusc farming areas, shall take place.

7. Upon receipt, transport vehicles and equipment, including tanks, containers and water must be treated in a manner that effectively inactivates the infectious agent responsible for the relevant listed disease(s).

8. Dead aquaculture animals and aquaculture animals showing clinical signs of disease must be clinically inspected by an approved qualified aquatic animal health professional and a representative selection of dead aquaculture animals and aquaculture animals showing clinical signs of disease must be examined in a laboratory designated by the competent authority.

9. The necessary examination, sampling and diagnostic methods must be carried out in consultation with and under the control of the competent authority.

10. In addition to the recording obligations provided for in Article 8 of Directive 2006/88/EC, the quarantine facility must keep a record of:

(a)

entry/exit time of personnel;

(b)

treatment of incoming water and of effluent water as appropriate;

(c)

any abnormal conditions affecting quarantine operation (power cuts, building damage or serious weather conditions);

(d)

dates and results of samples submitted for testing.