Chapter 2.4.4. – Infection with Marteilia refringens

Annex 31. Item 6.5.4. – Article 11.4.3. of Chapter 11.4. ‘Infection with *Marteilia refringens*’

(Track Changes Version)

CHAPTER 11.4.

INFECTION WITH *MARTEILIA REFRINGENS*

[...]

Article 11.4.3.

Measures for the i~~I~~mportation or transit of ~~aquatic animals and~~ aquatic animal products for any purpose regardless of the infection with *M. refringens* status of the exporting country, zone or compartment

~~1)~~The *aquatic animal products* listed below have been assessed as meeting the criteria for safety of *aquatic animal products* in accordance with Article 5.4.1. When authorising the importation or transit of these *aquatic animal products*,*Competent Authorities*should not require any *sanitary measures*~~conditions~~ related to infection with *M. refringens*, regardless of the infection with *M. refringens* status of the *exporting country*, *zone*or *compartment*:~~, when authorising the importation or transit of heat sterilised hermetically sealed mollusc products (i.e. a heat treatment at 121°C for at least 3.6 minutes or any time/temperature equivalent) from the species referred to in Article~~~~11.4.2.~~~~which are intended for any purpose and which comply with Article~~~~5.4.1.~~

1)*aquatic animal products* that have been subjected to a heat treatment sufficient to attain a core temperature of at least 121°C for at least three~~3~~ minutes and 36 seconds, or a time/temperature equivalent that inactivates *M. refringens*.

~~2)~~~~When authorising the importation or transit of~~*~~aquatic animals~~*~~~~~~and~~*~~aquatic animal products~~*~~~~~~of a species referred to in Article~~~~11.4.2.,~~~~other than those referred to in point 1 of Article~~~~11.4.3.,~~*~~Competent Authorities~~*~~~~~~should require the conditions prescribed in Articles~~~~11.4.7.~~~~to~~~~11.4.11.~~~~relevant to the infection with *M. refringens* status of the~~*~~exporting country~~*~~,~~*~~zone~~*~~~~~~or~~*~~compartment~~*~~.~~

~~3)~~~~When considering the importation or transit of~~*~~aquatic animals~~**~~~~*~~and~~*~~aquatic animal products~~*~~of a species not covered in Article~~~~11.4.2.~~~~but which could reasonably be expected to pose a~~*~~risk~~*~~of spread of infection with *M. refringens*, the~~*~~Competent Authority~~*~~should conduct a~~*~~risk analysis~~*~~in accordance with the recommendations in Chapter~~~~2.1.~~~~The~~*~~Competent Authority~~**~~~~*~~of the~~*~~exporting country~~*~~should be informed of the outcome of this assessment.~~

[...]

____________

(CLEAN VERSION)

CHAPTER 11.4.

INFECTION WITH *MARTEILIA REFRINGENS*

[...]

Article 11.4.3.

Measures for the importation or transit of aquatic animal products for any purpose regardless of the infection with *M. refringens* status of the exporting country, zone or compartment

The *aquatic animal products* listed below have been assessed as meeting the criteria for safety of *aquatic animal products* in accordance with Article 5.4.1. When authorising the importation or transit of these *aquatic animal products*, *Competent Authorities*should not require any *sanitary measures* related to infection with *M. refringens*, regardless of the infection with *M. refringens* status of the *exporting country*, *zone*or *compartment*:

1)	*aquatic animal products* that have been subjected to a heat treatment sufficient to attain a core temperature of at least 121°C for at least three minutes and 36 seconds, or a time/temperature equivalent that inactivates *M. refringens*.

[...]

____________

WOAH *Aquatic Manual* 2025	8