Commission Decision of 10 May 2007 amending Annexes I and II to Decision 2002/308/EC establishing lists of approved zones and approved farms with regard to one or more of the fish diseases viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN) (notified under document number C(2007) 1989) (Text with EEA relevance) (2007/345/EC)

Commission Decision

of 10 May 2007

amending Annexes I and II to Decision 2002/308/EC establishing lists of approved zones and approved farms with regard to one or more of the fish diseases viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN)

(notified under document number C(2007) 1989)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2007/345/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/67/EEC of 28 January 1991 concerning the animal health conditions governing the placing on the market of aquaculture animals and products(1), and in particular Articles 5 and 6 thereof,

Whereas:

(1) Commission Decision 2002/308/EC(2) establishes the lists of approved zones and approved fish farms situated in non-approved zones with regard to certain fish diseases.

(2) Germany, France and Italy have submitted the justifications for obtaining the status of approved farms in non-approved zones, with regard to viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN), for certain farms in their territory. The documentation provided shows that those farms meet the requirements of Article 6 of Directive 91/67/EEC. They therefore qualify for the status of approved farms in a non-approved zone and should be added to the list of approved farms.

(3) Germany, France and Italy have submitted the justifications for obtaining the status of approved zones, with regard to VHS and IHN, for certain zones in their territory. The documentation provided shows that those zones meet the requirements of Article 5 of Directive 91/67/EEC. They therefore qualify for the status of approved zones and should be added to the list of approved zones.

(4) Sweden has submitted the justifications for obtaining the status of approved zones with regard to VHS, for certain coastal areas in its territory. The documentation provided shows that those areas meet the requirements of Article 5 of Directive 91/67/EEC. The whole territory of Sweden should therefore be approved with regard to VHS and IHN.

(5) Germany has notified the presence of IHN in a zone previously considered free of that disease. The zone should therefore no longer appear in Decision 2002/308/EC as IHN-free. However, after the reorganisation of this zone, some of its parts remain free from VHS and IHN while the other parts should only be considered free of VHS. The list of approved zones should therefore be amended accordingly.

(6) Denmark has informed that an approved farm with regard to VHS and IHN does not comply with the maintenance requirements to be considered as free from VHS. The farm should therefore no longer appears as free of VHS.

(7) Finland has given notification that its programme for VHS freedom approved by Commission Decision 2003/634/EC of 28 August 2003 approving programmes for the purpose of obtaining the status of approved zones and of approved farms in non-approved zones with regard to viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN) in fish(3) has been finalised. The documentation provided by Finland shows that all coastal areas in its territory except the areas covered by the special eradication measures qualify for the status of approved zones and should therefore be added to the list of approved zones in Decision 2002/308/EC.

(8) Italy has given notification that a programme for VHS and IHN freedom approved by Decision 2003/634/EC has been finalised. This zone qualify for the status of approved zones and should be added to the list of approved zones.

(9) The approved zones and approved farms in non-approved zones in France should be reorganised to reflect better the geography and the administrative situation in that Member State.

(10) Decision 2002/308/EC should therefore be amended accordingly.

(11) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

(1)

OJ L 46, 19.2.1991, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (OJ L 122, 16.5.2003, p. 1).

(2)

OJ L 106, 23.4.2002, p. 28. Decision as last amended by Decision 2006/674/EC (OJ L 276, 7.10.2006, p. 80).

(3)

OJ L 220, 3.9.2003, p. 8. Decision as last amended by Decision 2006/685/EC (OJ L 282, 13.10.2006, p. 44).