Placing on the market of aquaculture animals and products

OBJECTIVE: to amend Directive 91/67/EEC concerning the animal health conditions governing the placing on the market of aquaculture, animals and products in order to: - organize trade in Salmonid fish in such a way as to prevent the introduction of the parasite Gyrodactylus salaris into regions declared officially free of that parasite; -introduce a certification requirement in order to prevent the spread of IHN (infectious haematopoietic necrosis and VHS (viral haemorrhagic septicaemia); - bring Community rules more in line with the requirements established by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE). SUBSTANCE: the amendments proposed by the Commission are aimed at: - classifying Gyrodactylus salaris as a list II serious disease under Directive 91/67/EEC and defining the rules under which a zone or certain farms can be declared free of Gyrodactylus salaris, and for which the same movement patterns apply as for other list II diseases; - introducing a certification requirement for fish, eggs and gametes placed on the market in a zone not officially declared free of IHN and VHS; - in line with the OIE requirements, ensuring that a zone can obtain the approved status 'free of disease' after a two-year period of sampling and testing. �