Legislation

You will find here important european and international texts about molluscs commercial exchange and diseases control.

  European Union legislation

You can access here to the main text of the european legislation dealing with diseases of molluscs. Many other texts are all available on EUR-LEX website. You can refer to the Aquaculture page of the Maritime Affairs website and the DG Health and Consumers website of the European Commission for more texts related to the aquaculture legislation in Europe.

The Council Directive 2006/88/EC

The Council Directive 2006/88/EC on "Animal health requirements for aquaculture animals and products thereof, and on the prevention and control of certain diseases in aquatic animals" has been published on the 24th of October 2006.

The commission implementing decision 2015/155 of 11 September 2015 lay down rules for the application of Directive 2006/88/EC as regards requirements for surveillance and diagnostic methods (B. ostreae and M. refringens).

The new Animal Health Law (AHL): Regulation (EU) 2016/ 429

The regulation (EU) 2016/429 on "transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (Animal Health Law)" was adopted in March 2016 and will enter into force in April 2021.

Some regulations supplementing EU's Animal Health Law are provided below:

Part 1 of AHL- General rules

The commission implementing regulation 2018/1882 on "the application of certain disease prevention and control rules to categories of listed diseases and establishing a list of species and groups of species posing a considerable risk for the spread of those listed diseases" was published in December 2018.

The annex set out the categories of each listed diseases.

Name of listed diseases

Category of listed disease

Infection with Mikrocytos mackini

A+D+E

Infection with Perkinsus marinus

A+D+E

Infection with Bonamia exitiosa

C+D+E

Infection with Bonamia ostreae

C+D+E

Infection with Marteilia refringens

C+D+E

Disease category definitions  :

(1)     ‘category A disease’:means a listed disease that does not normally occur in the Union and for which immediate eradication measures must be taken as soon as it is detected, as referred to in Article 9(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429;

(2)     ‘category B disease’:means a listed disease which must be controlled in all Member States with the goal of eradicating it throughout the Union, as referred to in Article 9(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429; (3)

(3)     ‘category C disease’:means a listed disease which is of relevance to some Member States and for which measures are needed to prevent it from spreading to parts of the Union that are officially disease-free or that have eradication programmes for the listed disease concerned, as referred to in Article 9(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429;

(4)      ‘category D disease’:means a listed disease for which measures are needed to prevent it from spreading on account of its entry into the Union or movements between Member States, as referred to in Article 9(1)(d) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429

(5)     ‘category E disease’:means a listed disease for which there is a need for surveillance within the Union, as referred to in Article 9(1)(e) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429

Part II of AHL - Surveillance, eradication programmes, disease freedom

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689 of 17 December 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council provides rules for surveillance, eradication programmes, and disease-free status for category C (M. refringens, B. exitiosa, B. ostreae) and emerging diseases

Surveillance programmes for category C diseases are carried out at establishment level and are voluntary. Frequency of visits and sample size set out in relevant chapter of Part III of Annex VI to Regulation (EU) 2020/689. Recommended diagnostic methods are listed in the "Diagnostic Manual" section of the EURL website.

Part III of AHL - Disease control

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/687 of 17 December 2019 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards rules for the prevention and control of certain listed diseases

Part III of this regulation covers kept and wild aquatic animal (and in particular, disease  control  measures  in  the  event  of  suspicion  and  official  confirmation  of  a  category A  disease).

Part IV Title II of AHL - Establishments and transporters

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/691 of 30 January 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of Council as regards rules for aquaculture establishments and transporters of aquatic animals

Part IV Title II of AHL - Intra-EU movements

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/990 of 28 April 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council, as regards animal health and certification requirements for movements within the Union of aquatic animals and products of animal origin from aquatic animals

Part V of AHL - Entry into the EU

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 of 30 January 2020 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for entry into the Union, and the movement and handling after entry of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and products of animal origin

 

Useful links

EUR-Lex
FVO (Food and Veterinary Office)
EU DG Fisheries and Maritime Affairs
EU DG Health and Consumer Protection

  International Organisations

OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health )
 FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations)
 ICES (International Commission for Exploration of the Sea)
WTO
ISO