Aquatic Animal Health Code
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Aquatic Animal Health Code |
Aquatic animal health measures applicable before and at departure
Each country should only authorise the exportation from its territory of live aquatic animals and aquatic animal products that are correctly identified, and inspected in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Aquatic Code and Aquatic Manual.
In certain cases, the above-mentioned aquatic animals could, in accordance with the wish of the importing country, be subjected to certain biological tests or to prophylactic parasitological procedures within limits of a defined period of time before their departure.
Observation of the above-mentioned aquatic animals before leaving the country may be carried out in the establishment where they were reared or at the frontier post. When they have been found to be clinically healthy and free from listed diseases or any other specified infectious disease by a member of the personnel of the Competent Authority or a certifying official approved by the importing country during the period of observation, the aquatic animals should be transported to the place of shipment in specially constructed containers, previously cleansed and disinfected, without delay and without coming into contact with other susceptible aquatic animals, unless these aquatic animals have health guarantees similar to those of the transported aquatic animals.
The transportation of aquatic animals for breeding or rearing or slaughter shall be carried out directly from the establishment of origin to the place of shipment or to the processing establishment in conformity with the conditions agreed between the importing and exporting countries.
Each country should only undertake the exportation of live aquatic animals or eggs or gametes destined for a country or zone or aquaculture establishment officially declared free from one or more of the listed diseases, when the exporting country or zone or aquaculture establishment of origin is itself officially declared free of the same disease(s). If the live aquatic animals originate in an infected aquaculture establishment or infected zone, with respect to the disease(s) in question, the exporting country should not export the aquatic animals if they have been exposed to infection by direct or indirect contact of a kind likely to cause transmission of the pathogenic agent(s), without the prior agreement of the importing country.
Each country exporting aquatic animals at any stage of development or aquatic animal products should inform the country of destination and when necessary the transit countries if, after exportation, diagnosis of a listed disease occurs in the establishment of origin, or in aquatic animals that were in the aquaculture establishment or natural water body at the same time as the exported animals, within a period of time that indicates that the exported consignment may have been infected.
Before the departure of the aquatic animals and aquatic animal products, a member of the personnel of the Competent Authority or a certifying official approved by the importing country should provide an international aquatic animal health certificate conforming with the models approved by the OIE (as shown in Chapter 5.11.) and worded in the languages agreed upon between the exporting country and the importing country and, when necessary, with the transit countries.
Before the departure of a consignment of aquatic animals on an international journey, the Competent Authority of the port, airport or district in which the frontier post is situated may, if it is considered necessary, have a health examination carried out on the consignment. The time and place of the examination shall be fixed taking into account customs and other formalities and in such a way as not to impede or unreasonably delay departure.
The Competent Authority referred to in point 1 above shall take necessary measures to:
prevent the shipment of aquatic animals showing clinical signs of any listed disease;
avoid entry into the container of possible vectors or pathogenic agents.
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2015 ©OIE - Aquatic Animal Health Code |
