Commission Decision of 15 November 2005 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(2005) 4394) (Text with EEA relevance) (2005/813/EC)

Commission Decision

of 15 November 2005

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(2005) 4394)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2005/813/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) Italy has submitted the justifications for obtaining the status of approved zones, with regard to viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN), for certain zones in its 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.

(3) Finland has submitted the justifications for obtaining the status of approved zones, with regard to viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN), for those parts of its territory not covered by the special eradication measures implemented following the VHS outbreaks in certain coastal areas. Following a meeting between the Commission services and representatives from Finland on 5 July 2005, Finland withdrew the application with regard to VHS-freedom in the coastal areas. The documentation provided shows that with respect to IHN the entire territory, and with respect to VHS, the continental parts of the territory of Finland meets the requirements of Article 5 of Directive 91/67/EEC. These parts of Finland therefore qualifies for the status of approved zones for VHS and IHN and should be added to the list of approved zone.

(4) As the sources of some of the water catchment areas in Finland are in Russia, Finland should maintain a high level of surveillance in those water catchment areas in accordance with the programme approved by Commission Decision 2003/634/EC(3), after approved status has been granted.

(5) Austria, France, Germany and Italy have submitted the justifications for obtaining the status of approved farms in non-approved zones, with regard to VHS and 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.

(6) Italy has notified the presence of IHN in two farms previously considered free of that disease. However, the farms remain free from VHS. Those farms should therefore no longer appear in Decision 2002/308/EC as free of IHN.

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

(8) 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 2005/475/EC (OJ L 176, 8.7.2005, p. 30).

(3)

OJ L 220, 3.9.2003, p. 8. Decision as last amended by Decision 2005/770/EC (OJ L 291, 5.11.2005, p. 33).