Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/260 of 11 February 2021 approving national measures designed to limit the impact of certain diseases of aquatic animals in accordance with Article 226(3) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Commission Decision 2010/221/EU (notified under document C(2021) 773) (Text with EEA relevance)Text with EEA relevance

The eradication programmes adopted by the Member States listed in the second column of the table in Annex II for the diseases which are subject to national measures and which are listed in the first column of that table, in respect of the areas listed in the fourth column thereof, are approved.

The period of application of an eradication programme shall not exceed 6 years from the date of its initial approval by the Commission. In duly justified cases, the Commission may, at the request of the Member State concerned, extend the period of application of the eradication programme for an additional 6-year period.

Aquatic animals of susceptible species for a particular disease which are listed in the second column of Annex III shall only be moved to Member States or parts thereof which are listed in the second and fourth columns of the tables in Annexes I or II if they:

1. originate from a Member State or part thereof, which is listed in the second and fourth columns of the table in Annex I as being free from the disease in question;

2. are accompanied by an official certificate issued by the competent authority of the Member State of origin, drawn up in accordance with an appropriate model animal health certificate set out in Chapters 1, 2, 3 or 5 of Annex I to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2236⁽¹⁾, specifying the guarantees relevant for the specific national measures in question.

By way of derogation from paragraph 1, point (a), aquatic animals of susceptible species for a particular disease which are listed in the second column of Annex III, may be moved to Member States or parts thereof which are listed in the second and fourth columns of the tables in Annexes I or II if:

1. in the case of wild aquatic animals, they have undergone quarantine in an aquaculture establishment which has been approved in accordance with Article 15 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/691⁽²⁾;

2. in the case of Member States or parts thereof subject to national measures for infection with Gyrodactylus salaris:

   1. immediately prior to the movement, the aquatic animals have been held under the conditions, set out in Chapter 10.3, Article 10.3.8, point (2) of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Aquatic Animal Health Code⁽³⁾;

   2. the fish eggs have been disinfected and subsequently kept under the conditions, set out in Chapter 10.3, Article 10.3.8, point (3) of the OIE Aquatic Animal Health Code.

By 30 April each year at the latest, the Member States listed in the second column of the tables in Annexes I and II shall submit a report to the Commission on the approved national measures for the disease-free status of those Member States and parts thereof referred to in Article 2, or for the eradication programmes referred to in Article 3, as appropriate.

The report referred to in paragraph 1 shall include:

1. information on the measures which have been taken in the previous calendar year to maintain the disease-free status, including at least the information set out in Annex III to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2002; or

2. information on the evolution of the eradication programme, including details of the testing which has been carried out in the previous calendar year and at least the information set out in Section 4 of Annex V to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2002.

The report referred to in paragraph 1 shall outline the reasons why the disease-free status or the eradication programme as appropriate, should continue to apply for a further calendar year. Particular reference shall be made to the availability of treatments, vaccines, disease resistant stocks, or other relevant developments should one or more of these have become a viable option for the prevention and control of the disease in question since the submission of the previous report.