Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687Show full title

Section 1 U.K. Preliminary disease control measures in the event of suspicion of a category A disease in aquaculture animals

Article 70 U.K. Obligations on operators in the event of suspicion of category A disease in aquaculture animals in establishments

In the event of suspicion of a category A disease in aquaculture animals of listed species, operators shall take the following disease control measures in order to prevent the spread of the category A disease from the affected animals and aquaculture establishments under their responsibility to other unaffected aquatic animals until the competent authority rules out the presence of the category A disease:

(a)

isolate, where technically possible, all aquaculture animals in the establishment suspected of being infected with the category A disease;

(b)

prevent movements of aquaculture animals into and from the establishment;

(c)

keep records of all visits and movements from and to the establishment;

(d)

keep any product, piece of equipment, material or substance likely to be contaminated with and to transmit category A diseases isolated and as far as practicable protected from vectors and other aquatic animals;;

(e)

implement the appropriate biosecurity measures to avoid spread of the category A disease;

(f)

provide the competent authority, on its request, with any relevant information regarding the category A disease; and

(g)

follow any instructions given by the competent authority regarding the control of category A disease, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and this Regulation.

Article 71 U.K. Investigation by the competent authority of the suspicion of a category A disease in aquaculture animals in an establishment

1. In the event of the suspicion of a category A disease in aquaculture animals in an establishment in accordance with Article 9(1), (3) and (4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689, the competent authority shall immediately conduct an investigation to confirm or rule out the presence of the suspected listed disease.

2. In the course of the investigation referred to in paragraph 1 the competent authority shall ensure that the official veterinarians perform at least:

(a) clinical examinations of aquaculture animals; and

(b) the collection of samples for laboratory examination.

Article 72 U.K. Preliminary restriction and biosecurity measures to be applied in the event of the suspicion of a category A disease in aquaculture animals

1. In the event of suspicion of a category A disease in an establishment, the competent authority shall place the establishment under official surveillance and immediately impose the following preliminary restriction and biosecurity measures, in order to prevent the spread of the category A disease from the affected aquaculture animals and the establishment to unaffected aquatic animals:

(a) prohibition of movements of aquaculture animals into and from the establishment;

(b) prohibition of non-essential movements from the establishment of means of transport and equipment;

(c) prohibition of slaughter of aquaculture animals for human consumption;

(d) where technically feasible and regarded necessary, order the isolation of all aquaculture animals; and

(e) when practicable, implement adequate means and measures to control birds and other predators.

2. The competent authority may order preventive killing of listed species at the affected establishment where a category A disease is suspected provided that all necessary biosecurity and other risk-mitigating measures are applied to prevent the spread of the category A disease from the establishment.

3. The competent authority shall by way of derogation from Article 10(i) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 and after carrying out a risk assessment, authorise movements of aquaculture animals for the sole purpose of immediate killing in a disease control aquatic food establishment or a plant approved for processing or disposal of as animal-by-products of category 1 or category 2 in accordance with that Regulation. The authorisation may only be granted when the necessary biosecurity and other risk-mitigating measures are applied to prevent the spread of the category A disease.

4. All animal by-products from dead aquaculture animals which have died or have been killed in accordance with this Article, including molluscs shells with meat, shall by way of derogation from Article 10(i) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 be processed or disposed of as category 1 or category 2 material in accordance with that Regulation to ensure that the relevant disease agent is inactivated and to prevent the transmission of the disease to other aquatic animals.

Article 73 U.K. Inventory and record analysis in the event of the suspicion of a category A disease in aquaculture animals

1. In the event of suspicion of a category A disease, the competent authority shall order and verify that, without delay, operators of the establishments where a category A disease is suspected compile and maintain an up-to-date inventory of the following:

(a) the species, categories and quantities (numbers, volume or weight) of all aquaculture animals kept in the establishment;

(b) any product, material or substance likely to be contaminated with or likely to transmit the category A disease; and

(c) the mortality in each epidemiological unit within the establishment, recorded on a daily basis.

2. In the framework of the epidemiological enquiry, as referred to in Article 57 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and carried out in establishments where the disease is suspected, the official veterinarians shall analyse at least the records listed in paragraph 1 of Article 186 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429.

Article 74 U.K. Extension of disease control measures in the event of the suspicion of a category A disease to other establishments

In order to prevent the spread of a category A disease the competent authority shall conduct an investigation as provided for in Article 71 and, after carrying out a risk assessment, extend the relevant measures provided for in Articles 72 and 73 to:

(a)

establishments situated in the same compartment as the establishment where the disease is suspected, or which, due to distance, hydrodynamic conditions or topographic conditions, have an increased risk for contracting the relevant disease agent from the establishment where the disease is suspected;

(b)

any establishment other than those referred to in point (a) which has a direct epidemiological link with the establishment where the disease is suspected.

Article 75 U.K. Temporary restricted zones around the establishment

The competent authority may establish a temporary restricted zone around the establishment where there is a suspicion of category A disease and where preliminary disease control measures are applied as referred to in Article 72 and Article 73 taking into account the following circumstances:

(a)

the location of the establishment in an area with other establishments keeping aquaculture animals of listed species for which a category A disease is suspected;

(b)

the movement of animals in the vicinity of the suspected establishment;

(c)

the delay in confirming the category A disease pursuant to Article 77;

(d)

the insufficient information on the possible origin and routes of introduction of the suspected category A disease; and

(e)

the disease profile, in particular the routes and speed of transmission of the disease and the persistence of the disease in the relevant population of aquaculture animals of listed species.

Article 76 U.K. Measures to apply in the event of suspicion of a category A disease in food and feed businesses, purification centre, dispatch centre, border control posts, animal by-products establishments or any other location of relevance, including means of transport

1. In the event of suspicion of a category A disease in accordance with Article 9(1), (3) and (4) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689 in food and feed businesses, purification centres, dispatch centres, border control posts, animal by-products establishments or any other location of relevance, including means of transport, the competent authority shall apply:

(a) the measures provided for in Articles 71 to 75; and

(b) if needed, additional measures adapted to the specific situation in order to prevent the spread of the category A disease from the animals and establishments or locations under suspicion to unaffected animals.

2. The competent authority shall apply provisions laid down in Articles 71 to 75 also in the establishments of origin of the animals or products present in the establishments and locations referred to in paragraph 1.