Council Directive 2006/88/ECShow full title

PART I Disease-free Member State

1.

On historical grounds

1.1.

A Member State where susceptible species are present, but where there has not been any observed occurrence of the disease for at least for a period of 10 years before the date of application for the disease-free status despite conditions that are conducive to its clinical expression may be considered disease-free where:

(a)

basic biosecurity measure conditions have been in place continuously for at least a period of 10 years before the date of application for the disease-free status;

(b)

infection is not known to be established in wild populations;

(c)

the implementation of trade and imports conditions to prevent the introduction of the disease into the Member State is effective.

A Member State wishing to benefit from a disease-free status, shall submit an application in accordance with Article 49 before1 November 2008. After this date, disease-free status may only be granted in accordance with Part I.2.

1.2.

The basic biosecurity measures referred to in point 1.1(a) shall consist, as a minimum, of the following:

(a)

the disease is compulsorily notifiable to the competent authority, including notification of suspicion;

(b)

an early detection system is in place throughout the Member State, enabling the competent authority to undertake effective disease investigation and reporting, and ensuring in particular:

(i)

the rapid recognition of any clinical signs consistent with the suspicion of a disease, emerging disease, or unexplained mortality in farms or molluscs farming areas, and in the wild;

(ii)

the rapid communication of the event to the competent authority with the aim to activating diagnostic investigation with minimum delay.

1.3.

The early detection system referred to in point 1.2(b) shall include at least the following:

(a)

broad awareness, among the personnel employed in aquaculture businesses or involved in the processing of aquaculture animals, of any signs consistent with the presence of a disease, and training of veterinarians or aquatic animal health specialists in detecting and reporting unusual disease occurrence;

(b)

veterinarians or aquatic animal health specialists trained in recognising and reporting suspicious disease occurrence;

(c)

access by the competent authority to laboratories with the facilities for diagnosing and differentiating listed and emerging diseases.

2.

Based on targeted surveillance

A Member State where the last known clinical occurrence was within 10 years before the date of application for the disease-free status or where the infection status prior to targeted surveillance was unknown, for example because of the absence of conditions conducive to clinical expression, may be considered free of the specific disease where:

(a)

the Member State meets the basic disease control conditions laid down in point 1.2;

and

(b)

targeted surveillance in accordance with methods adopted pursuant to Article 49(3), has been in place for at least a period of two years without detection of the disease agent on farm, or in mollusc farming areas that rears any of the susceptible species.

Where there are parts of the Member State in which the number of farms, or molluscs farming areas is limited, and consequently targeted surveillance in these parts do not provide sufficient epidemiological data, but in which there are wild populations of any of the susceptible species, those wild populations shall be included in the targeted surveillance.