Brussels, 23/08/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Commission adopted a proposed directive aiming to update, re-found and consolidate hygiene rules applicable to trade in aquaculture products (fish, molluscs and crustaceans), including in terms of the prevention of and fight against disease. The objective of the proposal is to improve the competitiveness of the EU's fisheries producers. In 2004, aquaculture products represented over 2.5 billion euros, but financial losses due to disease were estimated at 20% of the value of production (or 500 million EUR). The Commission proposes that this new legislation enter into force on 1 January 2007.
In order to stop the spread of the main diseases affecting aquatic animals at Community level, the proposal provides for hygiene provisions for the marketing of products, and draws up a list of these diseases and the species which are vulnerable to them. Obligatory measures (such as the destruction of infected animals) are planned in the event of outbreaks of so-called "exotic" diseases, i.e. those which are not prevalent in Community aquaculture. These include the following diseases: haematopoietic necrosis, which affects various species of fish (perch, rainbow trout), infection of Bonamia exitiosa which affects certain oysters, infection of Xenohaliotis californiensis which affects certain abalones, taura syndrome (Pacific white shrimp, blue shrimp...) or yellow head virus (to which many species of shrimp are vulnerable). On the so-called non-exotic diseases, the Commission will leave it up to the Member States to decide what measures to take. Non-exotic diseases on the list include spring viraemia of carp, viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (salmon, trout, pike, turbot, herring and sprat, Atlantic and Pacific cod, haddock), infectious haematopoietic necrosis (salmon, trout and pike), herpes virus (common carp), infectious salmon anaemia (Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout), Marteilia refringens and Bonamia exitiosa infection (certain species of oyster) and white spot (shrimps).
In particular, the proposal provides for a Community system of approval for aqua farms; - minimum measures in terms of disease prevention to be applied throughout the production chain (from the fertilisation and incubation of eggs to the processing of products for human consumption, including their transport); - a harmonised electronic system to register the movements of animals; - procedures to monitor animal health in farming areas; -routine inspections in the Member States in order to ensure that operators are correctly applying the rules to fight the diseases; -the presentation of programmes to fight and eradicate certain diseases by the Member States; -measures allowing the zones of infection to be tackled better (using emergency vaccinations if necessary); -measures to stop animal diseases being brought in when animals and aquaculture products are imported from third countries into the EU; -provisions relating to a declaration of a status of "disease-free"; -the option of paying financial aid from the European Fisheries Fund (2007-2013) to the Member States where aqua farms have been affected by disease.
The existing legislation was established some 20 years ago with the objective of protecting the main aquacultural activity at the time, which was the farming of salmonids (trout and salmon) and the cultivation of oysters. Some modernisation is therefore necessary to take account of the increased number of marine species which are being farmed and the development of new farming practices, particularly since the latest wave of enlargement of the EU. The sharp increase in the farming of crustaceans, muscles and clams must also be taken into account. Community provisions must be brought into line with international standards and agreements. This proposal will allow the following to be replaced: -the 1991 directive on hygiene conditions governing the sales of aquaculture animals and products; -the 1993 directive laying down minimum Community measures to fight against certain fish diseases; -a 1995 directive laying down minimum Community measures to control certain diseases of bivalve molluscs.