SECTION 2U.K.Aquaculture animals intended for farming and restocking
Article 15U.K.General requirements for the placing of aquaculture animals on the market for farming and restocking
1.Without prejudice to the provisions laid down in Chapter V, Member States shall ensure that aquaculture animals placed on the market for farming are:
(a)clinically healthy;
and
(b)do not come from a farm or mollusc farming area where there is any unresolved increased mortality.
This paragraph shall also apply in relation to diseases and the species susceptible thereto not listed in Part II of Annex IV.
2.By way of derogation from paragraph 1(b), Member States may allow such placing on the market, based on an assessment of risk, provided that the animals originate from a part of the farm or mollusc farming area independent of the epidemiological unit where the increased mortality has occurred.
3.Member States shall ensure that aquaculture animals intended for destruction or slaughter in accordance with the disease control measures provided for in Chapter V are not placed on the market for farming and restocking purposes.
4.Aquaculture animals may only be released into the wild for restocking purposes or into put and take fisheries if they:
(a)comply with the requirements in paragraph 1;
and
(b)come from a farm or mollusc farming area with a health status as referred to in Part A of Annex III, at least equivalent to the health status of the waters in which they are to be released.
However, Member States may decide that the aquaculture animals shall come from a zone or compartment declared disease-free in accordance with Articles 49 or 50. Member States may also decide to apply this paragraph to programmes drawn up and applied in accordance with Article 43.
Article 16U.K.Introduction of aquaculture animals of species susceptible to a specific disease into areas free of that disease
1.In order to be introduced for farming or restocking into a Member State, zone or compartment declared free of a specific disease in accordance with Articles 49 or 50, aquaculture animals of species susceptible thereto shall originate from another Member State, zone or compartment also declared free of that disease.
2.Where it can be scientifically justified that species susceptible to the specific disease at certain life stages do not transmit that disease, paragraph 1 shall not apply to those life stages.
A list of species and life stages to which the first subparagraph may apply shall be adopted and when necessary amended to take account of scientific and technological developments in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 62(2).
Article 17U.K.Introduction of live aquaculture animals of vector species into disease-free areas
1.Where scientific data or practical experience substantiates that species other than those referred to in Part II of Annex IV may be responsible for the transmission of a specific disease by acting as vector species, Member States shall ensure that where introduced for farming or restocking purposes into a Member State, zone or compartment declared free of that specific disease in accordance with Articles 49 or 50, such vector species shall:
(a)originate from another Member State, zone or compartment declared free of that specific disease;
or
(b)be held in quarantine facilities in water free of the pathogen in question, for an appropriate period of time, where, in the light of the scientific data or practical experience provided, this proves to be sufficient to reduce the risk of transmission of the specific disease to a level acceptable for preventing the transmission of the disease concerned.
2.A list of vector species and life stages of such species to which this Article applies and, where appropriate, the conditions under which those species can transmit a disease shall be adopted, and when necessary amended taking into account scientific and technological developments in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 62(2).
3.Pending the possible inclusion of a species on the list referred to in paragraph 2, the Commission may decide in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 62(3), to allow Member States to apply the provisions provided for in paragraph 1.