Commission Decision of 20 November 2008 on guidelines for the purpose of the risk-based animal health surveillance schemes provided for in Council Directive 2006/88/EC (notified under document number C(2008) 6787) (Text with EEA relevance) (2008/896/EC)

6.4. THE RISK LEVEL FOR CERTAIN FARMS AND MOLLUSC FARMING AREAS FALLING WITHIN HEALTH STATUS CATEGORY I

Farms and mollusc farming areas which do not keep species susceptible to any of the listed non-exotic diseases, or where the pathogen in question is known not to be able to survive in the Member State, zone or compartment and, where relevant, in its water source may, pursuant to Part B of Annex III to Directive 2006/88/EC, all be regarded as having a low risk level. It is therefore not necessary, in principle, for the risk-based animal health surveillance scheme to include different frequencies of inspections.

However, those farms and mollusc farming areas may have different levels of risk as regards the contraction and spread of listed non-exotic diseases or emerging diseases. Member States may therefore classify those farms and mollusc farming areas according to their risk level and thus differentiate their level of surveillance and inspection. In doing so, Member States may also take into account the need to optimise the use of resources.