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)

6.5. APPROXIMATION OF THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE CONTRACTION AND THE SPREAD OF DISEASE VIA WATER AND DUE TO GEOGRAPHICAL PROXIMITY OF FARMS AND MOLLUSC FARMING AREAS

6.5.1. Introduction

Farms and mollusc farming areas have a low risk of the contraction and the spread of disease if the sources and outlet of water or the water environment in which the farm or mollusc farming area is located can be regarded as giving a certain level of protection from the introduction and spread of pathogens of diseases. The risk of the contraction and spread of a disease on and from a farm or a mollusc farming area via water and due to geographical proximity of the farms and mollusc farming areas varies greatly(1).

The model set out in Section 6.3 only distinguishes between high and low likelihoods for the spread of diseases via water and due to the geographical proximity of farms and mollusc farming areas.

This section provides examples of situations that may be regarded as presenting a low likelihood for the contraction and spread of disease via water and due to the geographical proximity of farms and mollusc farming areas.

The list of examples provided in this section is not exhaustive. It should therefore not be concluded that farms and mollusc farming areas not covered by any of these examples present a high likelihood for the contraction or spread of diseases.

6.5.2. Examples of low risk for the contraction of disease via water and due to the geographical proximity of farms and mollusc farming areas:

(a)

farms and mollusc farming areas supplied with water through a borehole or spring;

(b)

farms and mollusc farming areas supplied with water which is disinfected or treated in order to prevent the introduction of pathogens;

(c)

farms and mollusc farming areas supplied with water from any other water source which:

(i)

are not connected to farms or mollusc farming areas, or processing establishments, keeping or processing species susceptible to the same diseases as the species kept in the farm or mollusc farming area concerned;

(ii)

do not contain wild aquatic animals of susceptible species;

(d)

inland water basins, including ponds and lakes, which are isolated from other water sources; in determining whether the water basin should be regarded as isolated, consideration should be given to seasonal changes such as the possibility of contact with other water sources through flooding;

(e)

coastal farms and mollusc farming areas which are protected by a safe distance from other farms and mollusc farming areas and from processing establishments keeping or processing species susceptible to the same diseases as the species kept in the farm or mollusc farming areas concerned; what should constitute a safe distance needs to be determined by the competent authority, taking into account factors such as the ability of the relevant pathogens to survive in open waters, the water currents and the length of tidal excursions.

6.5.3. Examples of low risk for the spread of disease via water and due to the geographical proximity of farms and mollusc farming areas:

(a)

farms and mollusc farming areas with no discharge into natural waterways(2);

(b)

farms and mollusc farming areas which disinfect, or in any other manner treat the water discharge, to prevent the spread of pathogens;

(c)

farms and mollusc farming areas which discharge their water into public sewage systems provided that the public sewage system contains a form of treatment of the sewage water; however, if the sewage water is discharged into natural water ways without any treatment, such farms and mollusc farming areas should not be regarded as constituting a low likelihood;

(d)

farms and mollusc farming areas with no discharge into waters with aquaculture or wild aquatic animals of species susceptible to the relevant listed disease(s);

(e)

inland water basins, including ponds and lakes, which are isolated from other water sources; in determining whether the water basin should be regarded as isolated, consideration should be given to seasonal changes such as the possibility of any contact with other water sources through flooding;

(f)

coastal farms and mollusc farming areas which are protected by a safe distance from other farms and mollusc farming areas keeping species which are susceptible to the same diseases as the species kept in the farm or mollusc farming areas concerned; what should constitute a safe distance needs to be determined by the competent authority taking into account factors such as the ability of the relevant pathogens to survive in open waters, the water currents, and the length of tidal excursions.

(1)

For example, from a covered recirculation system with water sourced from a borehole and where the outlet water is disinfected (very low risk), to a sea cage farm with a large number of farms in its proximity (very high risk).

(2)

For example, inland farms which lead their outlet water into the ground or on the fields.