Council Regulation (EC) No 708/2007Show full title

ANNEX III U.K. QUARANTINE

Quarantine is the means by which live animals or plants and any of their associated organisms are maintained in complete isolation from the surrounding environment so as to prevent impact on wild and farmed species and undesirable changes to natural ecosystems.

It is necessary to keep alien or locally absent species in quarantine long enough to detect all non-target species and to confirm the absence of pathogens or diseases. The unit is to be constructed in accordance with the specifications of the competent authority F1 ... which is to be responsible for approving it. The duration of quarantine must be indicated in the permit. [F2 If the quarantine facility is not located in the constituent GB territory into which the alien species is to be introduced or the locally absent species is to be translocated (“the receiving constituent GB territory”), the advisory committee responsible for the quarantine facility and the advisory committee in the receiving constituent GB territory must agree on the duration.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in Annex 3 omitted (31.12.2020) by S.I. 2019/451, reg. 9(17)(a)(i) (as substituted by The Aquatic Animal Health and Alien Species in Aquaculture, Animals, and Marketing of Seed, Plant and Propagating Material (Legislative Functions and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1463), regs. 1(2)(a), 2(2)(h))

F2 Words in Annex 3 substituted (31.12.2020) by S.I. 2019/451, reg. 9(17)(a)(ii) (as substituted by The Aquatic Animal Health and Alien Species in Aquaculture, Animals, and Marketing of Seed, Plant and Propagating Material (Legislative Functions and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1463), regs. 1(2)(a), 2(2)(h))

Operators are to run quarantine facilities in accordance with the following conditions. In addition the operator must have a quality assurance programme and an operating manual.

For the purpose of this Annex where an application refers to a proposed translocation, the terms introduction/introduced are to be replaced by translocation/translocated.

Effluent and waste disposal U.K.

All effluents and wastes generated within the facility must be treated in a manner that effectively destroys all possible target species and associated organisms. To ensure continuous operation and complete containment, quarantine effluent treatment systems must be equipped with fail-safe backup mechanisms.

Treated effluent and waste may contain substances which are harmful to the environment (e.g. antifouling agents) and must be disposed of in a manner which minimises environmental impact.

Details of effluent and solid waste treatment must be prepared, listing the personnel responsible for treatments and timing. The system must be monitored to ensure effective operation and early detection of possible failures.

Physical separation U.K.

The organisms which have been transferred must be kept separate from other organisms to ensure containment. This excludes sentinel species which are specifically included to test the effects of the introduced species. The entry of birds, other animals, disease agents and contaminants must be prevented.

Personnel U.K.

Access must be restricted to trained, authorised personnel. Footwear, hands and any material used within the facility should be disinfected (see below) before exiting the facility.

Equipment U.K.

Upon receipt, all life-stages, tanks, water, shipping containers and equipment in contact with the introduced species, including the transport vehicles, must be handled is such a way as to ensure that there is no escape of the species or associated non-target species from the facility. All shipping and packing material must be disinfected, or burned if burning of the material is authorised.

Mortalities and disposal U.K.

Daily records or mortalities must be maintained and must be available for inspection by the competent authority [F3 responsible for the facility]. All mortalities must be kept on site. No mortalities, tissue or shells are to be discarded without approved treatment to ensure complete disinfection. Heat treatment such as autoclaving or chemical sterilisation may be employed.

Mortalities must be reported to the competent authority [F3 responsible for the facility][F4 , which] must investigate the cause of mortalities in a timely manner. Mortalities must be stored, transported and disposed of, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 3 October 2002 laying down health rules concerning animal by-products not intended for human consumption(1).

Textual Amendments

F3 Words in Annex 3 inserted (31.12.2020) by S.I. 2019/451, reg. 9(17)(b)(i) (as substituted by The Aquatic Animal Health and Alien Species in Aquaculture, Animals, and Marketing of Seed, Plant and Propagating Material (Legislative Functions and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1463), regs. 1(2)(a), 2(2)(h))

F4 Word in Annex 3 substituted (31.12.2020) by S.I. 2019/451, reg. 9(17)(b)(ii) (as substituted by The Aquatic Animal Health and Alien Species in Aquaculture, Animals, and Marketing of Seed, Plant and Propagating Material (Legislative Functions and Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/1463), regs. 1(2)(a), 2(2)(h))

Inspection and testing U.K.

Regular inspections must be carried out for non-target species. If such a species or a previously undetected disease or parasite is identified in an organism, actions necessary to control the situation must be taken. These actions may include destruction of the organisms and disinfection of the facility.

Duration U.K.

The required duration of quarantine will vary according to the organism in question, seasonality of non-target species of concern and the rearing conditions.

Record keeping U.K.

Quarantine facilities must maintain accurate records of the following:

• entry/exit times of personnel,

• number of mortalities and method of storage or disposal,

• treatment of incoming water and of effluent,

• samples submitted to experts to test for non-target species,

• any abnormal conditions affecting quarantine operation (power cuts, building damage, serious weather conditions, etc.).

Disinfection U.K.

Disinfection involves the application of disinfectants in sufficient concentrations and for sufficient time to kill harmful organisms. The disinfectants and concentrations for quarantine disinfection must be based on complete seawater and freshwater disinfection. Similar concentrations must be used for routine facility disinfection. It is recommended that all disinfectants be neutralised before release into the surrounding environment and facilities using seawater must deal with residual oxidants produced during chemical disinfection. In case of an emergency, such as the finding of an imported parasite or disease agent, sufficient disinfectant must be available to enable treatment of the entire facility.

(1)

OJ L 273, 10.10.2002, p. 1. Regulation last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 2007/2006 (OJ L 379, 28.12.2006, p. 98).