Placing on the market of aquaculture animals and products

The Committee supports the Commission's proposal to amend Directive 91/67/EEC in order to transfer the parasite Gyodactylus salaris from list III to list II of Annex A. The amendment will enable more effective control of the parasite, which poses a serious threat to wild stocks of Atlantic salmon. The ESC also endorses the Commission's proposal for the introduction of a certification requirement designed to prevent the spread of viral diseases such as IHN and VHS through transfers in non-approved zones and the proposal to align EU rules with the OIE's recommendations by shortening the testing and sampling period required for obtaining approved status to two years. The Committee underlines the importance of cooperation within the EU and the need to step up cooperation with non-EU states so that more effective action can be taken against dangerous fish diseases and parasites. In addition, the Committee proposes that research related to fish diseases and parasites should be increased so as to ensure that adequate prerequisites exist for the control of dangerous fish diseases. �