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

CHAPTER III U.K. Disease control measures in wild aquatic animals

Article 102 U.K. Measures in the event of a suspect case of a category A disease in wild aquatic animals of listed species

In the event of a suspect case of a category A disease in wild aquatic animals of listed species in accordance with Article 9(1), (3) and (4) in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689, the competent authority shall:

(a)

immediately conduct an investigation of wild aquatic animals of listed species fished, caught, collected or found dead to confirm or rule out the presence of the category A disease in accordance with Article 71(2);

(b)

ensure that all animal by-products obtained from the wild aquatic animals of listed species suspected to be infected, including molluscs shells with meat, are processed or disposed of as category 1 or category 2 material in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009;

(c)

ensure that, where practicable any material or substance likely to be contaminated by animals suspected to be affected or by the animal by-products obtained from those animals undergoes cleaning and disinfection or is disposed of following the instructions and under the supervision of official veterinarians; and

(d)

provide relevant information to the operators or authorities in charge of the management of the relevant animal population.

Article 103 U.K. Measures in the event of an outbreak of a category A disease in wild aquatic animals of listed species

1. In the event of an officially confirmed case of a category A disease in wild aquatic animals of listed species, the competent authority shall determine an infected zone on the basis of:

(a) relevant hydrodynamic, topographic and epidemiological conditions;

(b) the disease profile and the estimated population of aquatic animals of listed species; and

(c) the risk factors contributing to the spread of the relevant category A disease, in particular those associated with the risk of introducing the disease into establishments keeping aquatic animals of listed species.

2. The competent authority may adapt the boundaries of the initial infected zone:

(a) in order to control the further spread of the relevant category A disease; and

(b) in the case of confirmation of further outbreaks of the category A disease in wild animals.

3. The competent authority shall immediately inform operators, other relevant competent authorities, relevant veterinarians, and any other natural or legal person concerned, about the outbreak of the diseases and the control measures adopted.

Article 104 U.K. Measures to be applied in the infected zone

1. In the infected zone established in accordance with Article 103 the competent authority shall:

(a) implement risk mitigation and reinforced biosecurity measures, in order to prevent the spread of the category A disease from the affected animals and infected zone to unaffected animals and areas;

(b) prohibit any movement by humans of wild aquatic animals of listed species and products of animal origin obtained from those animals from the infected zone;

(c) by way of derogation from Article 10(i) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 ensure that all animal by-products obtained from the wild aquatic animals of listed species in the infected zone including molluscs shells, with meat are processed or disposed of as category 1 or category 2 material in accordance with that Regulation;

(d) ensure, where practicable, that any material or substance likely to be contaminated by wild aquatic animals of listed species in the infected zone or animal by-products obtained from those animals undergoes cleaning and disinfection or is disposed of following the instructions and under the supervision of official veterinarians; and

(e) prohibit bringing into establishments keeping aquaculture animals of listed species both within and outside the infected zone or to water catchment or coastal areas outside the infected zone any parts of aquatic animals of listed species whether, fished, caught, collected or found dead in the infected zone as well as any product, material or substance which is likely to be contaminated with a category A disease in the infected zone.

2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1(b) and for the purpose of preserving valuable genetic material, the competent authority may authorise movements of wild aquatic animals of listed species from the infected zone to an establishment authorised by the competent authority for that purpose, provided that appropriate biosecurity measures to prevent the spread of the category A disease are applied. The establishment of destination shall be considered as an establishment located in the infected zone for the purposes of Article 108.

Article 105 U.K. Additional measures to be applied in the infected zone

1. After carrying out a risk assessment, the competent authority shall determine the additional measures necessary to control or eradicate the relevant category A disease.

2. As part of the control or eradication of the relevant category A disease the competent authority may:

(a) suspend restocking, fishing, collecting and catching activities;

(b) order mandatory cleaning and disinfection of fishing equipment and boats and other equipment likely to be contaminated; and

(c) increase fishing, collecting and catching activities or implement other relevant measures to eradicate the disease.

3. The measures provided for in paragraph 1 shall be implemented after consultations and in cooperation with the operational expert group referred to in Article 107 and other authorities and stakeholders.

Article 106 U.K. Extension of measures

The competent authority may decide that relevant measures in Articles 102 to 105 also apply to aquatic animals of non-listed species.

Article 107 U.K. Operational expert group

1. In the event of a confirmed case of a category A disease in wild aquatic animals of listed species, the competent authority shall establish an operational expert group as referred to in Article 43(2)(d)(iii) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429.

2. The operational expert group shall assist the competent authority in:

(a) assessing the epidemiological situation and its evolution;

(b) determining the infected zone; and

(c) establishing the appropriate measures to be applied in the infected zone and their duration.

Article 108 U.K. Measures in the establishments within the infected zone

1. In the establishments keeping aquaculture animals of listed species within the infected zone, the competent authority shall apply the measures provided for in Article 87.

2. In addition to the measures provided for in Article 87, the competent authority shall prohibit the movement of aquaculture animals kept in establishments within the infected zone:

(a) out of the infected zone; or

(b) to other establishments in the infected zone.

3. The competent authority may, after carrying out a risk assessment, limit the prohibition in paragraph 2 to aquaculture animals of listed species.

4. By way of derogation from paragraph 2, the competent authority may authorise after carrying out a risk assessment and in agreement with the competent authority of the place of destination, the movement of animals of of listed species out of the infected zone or to other establishments in the infected zone.

Article 109 U.K. Duration of the measures in the infected zone

The competent authority shall maintain the measures provided for in this Chapter until the epidemiological information indicates that the relevant wild population no longer poses a risk of spreading the disease and the operational group recommends lifting the measures.