Article 1The guidelines to be taken into account for the purpose...
Article 2This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
ANNEXGUIDELINES TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT FOR THE PURPOSE OF THE RISK-BASED ANIMAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE SCHEMES PROVIDED FOR IN ARTICLE 10(1) OF DIRECTIVE 2006/88/EC
1.Purpose of these guidelines 2.Content of inspections 2.1.CHECKING OF RECORDS AND CLINICAL EXAMINATIONS 2.2.SAMPLING AND LABORATORY EXAMINATION 3.Choosing between the competent authority, private veterinarians and other qualified...4.Frequency of inspections 5.The health status of the farms and mollusc farming areas...6.The determination of the risk level of farms and mollusc...6.1.INTRODUCTION 6.2.RISK FACTORS 6.3.MODEL TO DETERMINE THE RISK LEVEL OF FARMS AND MOLLUSC...6.4.THE RISK LEVEL FOR CERTAIN FARMS AND MOLLUSC FARMING AREAS...6.5.APPROXIMATION OF THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE CONTRACTION AND THE SPREAD...6.5.1.Introduction 6.5.2.Examples of low risk for the contraction of disease via...6.5.3.Examples of low risk for the spread of disease via...6.6.APPROXIMATION OF THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE CONTRACTION AND SPREAD OF...6.6.1.Introduction 6.6.2.Examples of low likelihood of the contraction of disease through...6.6.3.Examples of low likelihood of the spread of disease through...

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)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 2006/88/EC of 24 October 2006 on animal health requirements for aquaculture animals and products thereof, and on the prevention and control of certain diseases in aquatic animals1, and in particular Article 10(4) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

Directive 2006/88/EC lays down minimum control measures to be applied in the event of suspicion of, or an outbreak of certain diseases in aquatic animals. In addition, Part II of Annex IV to that Directive lists certain exotic and non-exotic diseases.

(2)

Article 10(1) of Directive 2006/88/EC provides that Member States are to ensure that a risk-based animal health surveillance scheme is applied in all farms and mollusc farming areas, as appropriate for the type of production. Such schemes are to take account of guidelines to be drawn up in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 10(4) of that Directive.

(3)

Pursuant to Directive 2006/88/EC, the aim of the animal health surveillance schemes is to detect any increased mortality in all farms and mollusc farming areas, as appropriate for the type of production, as well as to detect the diseases listed in Part II of Annex IV to that Directive, in farms and mollusc farming areas where species susceptible to those diseases are present. In addition, pursuant to Part B of Annex III to Directive 2006/88/EC, inspections carried out as part of such schemes also aim at advising the aquaculture production business operators on aquatic animal health issues, and where needed, at undertaking the necessary veterinary measures.

(4)

Due to the diversity of the aquaculture industry in the Community, the risk-based animal health surveillance schemes need to be adapted to the structure of that industry and to the animal health situation in each Member State. The guidelines to be taken into account by the Member States for the purpose of such schemes should therefore be limited to giving general guidance.

(5)

It is therefore appropriate to lay down the guidelines to be taken into account for the purpose of the risk-based animal health surveillance schemes in this Decision.

(6)

The measures laid down in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: