30.4.2004              EN                       Official Journal of  the European Union                                         L 156/ 29 
COMMISSION DECISION 
of 29 April 2004 
amending Annexes I, II and III to Decision 2003/858/EC laying down the animal health 
conditions and certification requirements for im ports of live fish, their eggs and gametes 
intended for farming, and live fish of aquacu lture origin and products thereof intended 
for human consumption 
(notified under document number C(2004) 1680) 
 
(Text with EEA relevance) 
 
(2004/454/EC) 
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty esta blishing the European Community, 
Having regard to Council Dir ective 91/67/EEC of 28 January  1991 concerning the animal 
health conditions governing the placing on the market of aquaculture animals and products8, 
and in particular Article 20(1)  and Article 21(2) thereof, 
Whereas: (1) Commission Decision 2003/858/EC
9 lays down the specific animal health conditions 
and model certificates applicable to thir d countries or parts thereof from which 
Member States are authorised to import live fish, their eggs and gametes intended for farming, and live fish of aquaculture origin and products thereof intended for human consumption. 
(2) By Commission Decision 2004/…/EC of dd/mm/yy [
implementing Council Directive 
91/67/EEC as regards measures against certain diseases in aquaculture animals ]10 Denmark, 
Finland, Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom have been granted additional 
guarantees for certain diseases referred to in Annex A, Column 1, List III to Directive 
91/67/EEC. 
(3) Those guarantees should also apply when live fish is im ported from third countries. 
Annexes I, II and III to Decision 2003/858/EC should take those additional guarantees 
into account and be amended accordingly. 
(4) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the 
Standing Committee of the Food Chain and Animal Health. 
                                                 
8 OJ L 46, 19.2.1991, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 806/2003 (OJ L 122, 
16.5.2003, p. 1.). 
9 OJ L 324, 11.12.2003, p. 37. 
10 OJ L (SANCO/10022/2004-Rev. 4) 
30.4.2004              EN                       Official Journal of  the European Union                                         L 156/ 30 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
Decision 2003/858/EC is amended as follows: 
1. Annex I is replaced by the text in Annex I to this Decision. 
2. Annex II is replaced by the text in Annex II to this Decision. 
3. Annex III is replaced by the text in Annex III to this Decision. 
Article 2 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 29 April 2004. 
 For the Commission 
 David Byrne 
 Member of the Commission 
30.4.2004              EN                       Official Journal of  the European Union                                         L 156/ 31 
ANNEX I  
“ANNEX I 
Territories from which importation of cert ain species of live fish, their eggs, and 
gametes intended for farming in the Euro pean Community (EC) are authorised 
Country Territory Specific requirements11 
ISO-
code Name Code  Description  VHS  IHN SVC BKD IPN G. 
salaris Comments12 
AL Albania          
AU Australia          
BR Brazil         Carps only  
BG Bulgaria          
CA Canada          
CL Chile          
CN China, Peoples 
Republic of         Carps only  
CO Colombia         Carps only  
CG Congo         Carps only 
H R  C r o a t i a           
MK13 Former 
Yugoslav 
Republic of 
Macedonia         C a r p s  o n l y  
ID Indonesia          
IL Israel          
JM Jamaica         Carps only  
JP Japan         Carps only 
                                                 
11 Insert “Yes” or “No” as relevant if designated farm, coastal or continental zone is approved by the 
central competent authority of the exporting country as a territory that fulfils the specific animal health 
requirements - including a non-v accination policy - for introduction into European Community zones 
and farms having a Community approved programme or st atus, or for one or more of the diseases viral 
haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and infectious h aematopoietic necrosis (IHN ), additional guarantees 
for spring viraemia of carp (SVC), bacterial kidney disease (BKD, infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN), 
and/or Gyrodactylus salaris  (G. salaris ). 
12 No limitations if left empty. If a country or terr itory is allowed to export only certain species and/or 
eggs or gametes, the species shou ld be specified and/or a comment with for example "eggs only" shall 
be inserted in this column. 
13 Provisional code that does not affect the definitive denomination of the country to be attributed after the 
conclusion of the negotiations curren tly taking place in the United Nations. 
30.4.2004              EN                       Official Journal of  the European Union                                         L 156/ 32 
MY Malaysia 
(Peninsular, 
Western 
Malaysia only)         C a r p s  o n l y  
NZ New Zealand          
RU Russian 
Federation          
SG Singapore         Carps only 
ZA South Africa          
LK Sri Lanka         Carps only 
TW Taiwan         Carps only 
TH Thailand         Carps only 
TR Turkey          
US United States          
                                                                                                                                             “         
30.4.2004              EN                       Official Journal of  the European Union                                         L 156/ 33 
ANNEX II  
”ANNEX II  
MODEL ANIMAL HEALTH CERTIFICATE FOR THE IMPORTATION OF(1)[LIVE 
FISH, EGGS AND GAMETES FOR FARMING](1)[LIVE FISH OF AQUACULTURE 
ORIGIN FOR THE PURPOSE OF (1)[HUMAN CONSUMPTION](1) [ RESTOCKING 
OF PUT AND TAKE FISHERIES]] IN TO THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY (EC) 
Note for the importer: This certificate is only for veterinary purposes and has - in its original - to accompany the 
consignment until it reaches the border inspection post. 
 Reference Code No ORIGINAL 
1. Exporting country and authorities involved 
1.1. Exporting country:.................................................. 
 ................................................................................ 
1.2. Competent authority: .............................................. 
 ................................................................................ 
1.3. Competent issu ing authority: .................................. 
 ................................................................................ 3. Destination of the consignment 
3.1. Member State:........................................................  
 ...............................................................................  
(1)[3.2. Zone or part(3) of the Member State:......................  
 ..............................................................................] 
(1)[3.3. Farm, name:...........................................................  
 ..............................................................................] 
3.4. Address:.................................................................  
 ...............................................................................  
3.5. Name, address and phone  number of the Consignee:
 ................................................................................  
 ................................................................................  
 ...............................................................................  2. Place of origin of the consignment 
2.1. Code of territory of origin(2):................................... 
 ................................................................................ 
(1)[2.2. Farm of or igin, name: ............................................. 
 .............................................................................. ]  
(1)[2.3. Address or lo cation of farm: ................................... 
 ................................................................................ 
 ...............................................................................]  
2.4. Name, address and phone number of the Consignor: 
 ................................................................................ 
 ................................................................................ 
 ................................................................................  ................................................................................ 
 ................................................................................  4. Means of transp ort and consignment 
identification
(4) 
4.1. Means of transport: (1)[Lorry] (1)[Rail-wagon] 
(1)[Ship] (1)[Aircraft] 
 4.2. (1)[Registration number(s)] (1)[Ship name] (1)[Flight 
number]: ................................................................   
4.3. Consignment iden tification details: .......................  
...............................................................................   
5. Description of the consignment 
ڤ Farmed stocks ڤ Wild stocks    ڤ Live fish     ڤ Gametes      ڤ Fertilised eggs     ڤ Unfertilised eggs      ڤ Larvae/fry 
Fish specie(s) 
Scientific  name: Common name: Total weight of fish (kg) 
(1)[Number of fish]  (1)[Volume of eggs] 
(1)[Volume of gametes] Age of live fish 
    ڤ> 24 months 
ڤ 12-24 months 
ڤ  0-11 months; 
ڤ  unknown  
 
30.4.2004              EN                       Official Journal of  the European Union                                         L 156/ 34 
 Reference Code No ORIGINAL 
6. Animal health attestation for importation of (1)[ (1)[live fish] (1)[and] (1)[eggs] (1)[and] (1)[gametes] for farming] 
(1)[live fish of aquaculture origin intended for (1)[human consumption] (1)[for farming or restocking of put-and 
take fisheries]  ] 
 I, the undersigned official inspector, hereby certify that the (1)[live fish] (1)[and] (1)[eggs] (1)[and] (1)[gametes], referred 
to at point 5 this certificate fulfils the following requirements: 
6.1. either:  
 (1)[They originate from the territory(2) with the code:……….. (2) and in which all farms rearing or keeping live fish, 
their eggs or gametes, of any species considered as susceptible(5) to the following diseases : infectious salmon anaemia 
(ISA); epizootic haematopoietic necr osis (EHN); viral haemorrhagic se pticaemia (VHS); and infectious 
haematopoietic necrosis (IHN):  
– are officially registered by the competent authority,  
– keep an updated record of: live fish, eggs and gametes en tering and leaving the farm and all information relating 
to: their delivery and dispatch, thei r number or weight, their size, their source, their suppliers and observed 
mortality(6)  
– have to notify as soon as possible to the competent author ity, any suspicion of the following diseases: ISA, EHN, 
VHS and IHN; and any clinical signs giving reason to suspect the presence of a disease capable of causing 
significant impact to the fish stock,  
– are subject to appropriate disease contro l measures as necessary at  least equivalent to those required in Council 
Directives 91/67/EEC and 93/53/EEC including prohibition as regards vaccination against ISA, and as regards 
sampling and  testing also Deci sions 2001/183/EC and 2003/466/EC; in cases where sampling and testing 
methods are not established in the Co mmunity legislation, the methods ar e those laid down in the relevant 
chapters of the OIE(7) Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals, Fourth edition, 2003,  
– have had no disease, that has caused si gnificant impact to the stock during th e last six months prior to dispatch, 
and during the last two years, no cases  of the diseases: ISA, and EHN  
– have, during the last two years prior to dispatch not in troduced live fish, eggs or gametes with a lower health 
status,  
– there are, on the day of loading, no clinical signs of dis ease and there is no suspicion of the presence of any of the 
following diseases: ISA, EHN, VHS and IHN, ] 
 or 
– (1)[They originate from the territory(2) with the code:……….. (2) and  which: 
– is a designated farm, or a farm that is not connected with coastal or estuarial waters, and that does not contain fish 
of the species considered as susceptible(5) to the diseases: infectious salmon anaemia (ISA); epizootic 
haematopoietic necrosis (EHN); viral ha emorrhagic septicaemia ( VHS); and infectious ha ematopoietic necrosis 
(IHN)  
– keep an updated record of: live fish, eggs and gametes en tering and leaving the farm and all information relating 
to: their delivery and dispatch, thei r number or weight, their size, their source, their suppliers and observed 
mortality(6)]  
6.2. They: 
– have not, since the time of collection, be en in contact with live fish, eggs or gametes of a lower health status than 
referred to in point 6.1 of this certificate,  
– are not intended for destruction or slaughter for the eradication of the following  diseases: ISA; VHS; IHN; 
EHN; spring viraemia of carp (SVC); Infectious panc reatic necrosis (IPN); Bacterial kidney disease (BKD, 
Renibacterium salmoninarum ); Furunculosis ( Aeromonas salmonicida ); Enteric redmouth disease (ERM, 
Yersinia ruckeri ); Gyrodactylus salaris ; or due to diseases caused  by any other pathogen,  
– are not subject to any prohibitions for animal health reasons,  
– were inspected on the day of loading and showed no clinical si gns of disease,  
– (8)[were subject to a visual check of a randomly selected representative part of the consignment, including each 
part having a different origin, and no fish species other th an those specified in point 5 of this certificate were 
detected], and 
– (9)[have been disinfected in accordance with OIE(7)  International Aquatic Anim al Health Code, edition 2003, 
Appendix 5.2.1;] 
30.4.2004              EN                       Official Journal of  the European Union                                         L 156/ 35 
 Reference Code No ORIGINAL 
 (10)[7. Specific animal health requirements as regards VHS, IHN, SVC, IPN, BKD and Gyrodactylus salaris  
 (11)[7.1. I, the undersigned official in spector, hereby certify that the (1)[live fish] (1)[and] (1)[eggs] (1)[and] (1)[gametes], 
referred to at point 5 this certificate, originate from a territory (2) that, in addition to the guara ntees given in point 6 of 
this certificate, is approved by the competent authority as ha ving an equivalent health status to those farms and zones 
within the Community, with approved status as regards (1)[VHS] (1)[and] (1)[IHN] , as they: 
 Either  
– (1)[either (1)[ originate from a coastal zone in which all farms are under the supervision of the competent authority, 
and the fish ] 
  or   (1)[ originate from a continental zone in which all farms are under the supervision of the competent 
authority and the fish]  
    or  (1)[ originate from a designated farm which is under the supervision of the competent authority, and where 
the water is supplied by means of a system which ensures the complete inactivation of (1)[VHS] (1)[and] 
(1)[IHN]and the fish] 
   or    (1)[ originate from a coastal zone in which there are no farms and the wild fish:] 
  or    (1)[ originate from a continental zone in which there are no farms and the wild fish:] 
– have been subject to health in spections, carried out at intervals adapted to the development of (1)[VHS] 
(1)[and] (1)[IHN] and samples are taken and examined for thes e pathogens with a negative result by an 
officially authorised laboratory and the sampling and te sting methods are at least equivalent to those laid 
down in Directives 91/67/EEC, 93/ 53/EEC and Decision 2001/183/EC as  the following surveillance 
scheme has been used: 
(12)["EC Model A" – at least four years documente d freedom, including a tw o-year surveillance 
program] (12)["EC Model B" – at least six years documented freedom, in cluding a two-year 
surveillance program with reduced sample size] (13)["EC Special provisions" – new farms] (13)["EC 
Special provisions"- farms which recommence their activities] (1)["OIE" – methods as described in 
the OIE(7) Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Anim als, Fourth edition, 2003, Chapters: I.1.4 
(General) and (1)[2.1.5. (VHS)] (1)[and] (1)[2.1.2. (IHN)]]  
– since at least 2 years have been free of clinical and other signs of (1)[VHS] (1)[and] (1)[IHN] 
– originate from a territory(2) where all necessary measures(14) are taken to prevent the introduction of 
diseases.] 
 Or 
– (1)[originate from a farm that is not connected with coastal or estuarial waters and does not contain any fish of the 
species considered as susceptible(5) to (1)[VHS] (1)[and] (1)[IHN].         ]  
 
(15)[7.2. I, the undersigned official inspector, hereby certify that the (1)[live fish] (1)[and] (1)[eggs] (1)[and] (1)[gametes], 
referred to at point 5 this certificate, which is considered susceptible(5) to (1)[Spring viraemia of carp] (1)[and] 
(1)[Infectious pancre atic necrosis] (1)[and] (1)[Bacterial kidney disease], originate from a territory(2)   
            - where (1)[SVC] (1)[and] (1)[IPN] (1)[and] (1)[BKD] is notifiable to the compet ent authority, and reports of 
suspicion of infections must be immediately investigated by the official services, 
            - in which all introduction of species susceptible(5) (1)[SVC] (1)[and] (1)[IPN] (1)[and] (1)[BKD] has come from a 
zone or farm having the same he alth status with respect to (1)[SVC] (1)[and] (1)[IPN] (1)[and] (1)[BKD],  
            (16)[- in which the fish has not been vaccinated against (1)[SVC] (1)[and] (1)[IPN] (1)[and] (1)[BKD] ,] 
                  - where all farms raising species susceptible(5) to (1)[SVC] (1)[and] (1)[IPN] (1)[and] (1)[BKD] are under the 
supervision of the competent authority; 
            - where all necessary measures(14) are taken to prevent the introduction of diseases,  
            - that, in addition to the guarantees given in  point 6 of this certificate, is approved by the competent authority as 
having an equivalent health status to zones within th e Community, having additional guarantees with regard to 
(1)[SVC] (1)[and] (1)[IPN] (1)[and] (1)[BKD] as they; 
  either (1)[originate from the following territory(2):…………………,which is considered free from (1)[SVC] 
(1)[and] (1)[IPN] (1)[and] (1)[BKD] in accordance with A nnex I to Decision 2003/858/EC.] 
  
or (1)[originate from the following farm:…………………,which at the time of the year (1)[SVC] (1)[and] (1)[IPN] 
(1)[and] (1)[BKD] is expected to manifest itself, have  been submitted for at least two years to 
inspections by the competent authorities, with sampling at least equivalent to those sampling 
programmes laid down by Commission Decision 2001/183/EC(12) or surveillance methods as 
described in the OIE(7) Manual of diagnostic tests for aquatic animals, Chapter 1.1.4 and the relevant 
disease chapters, and as laboratory tests have b een carried out in accordance with the relevant 
chapters in the most current edition of the OIE(7) Manual of diagnostic tests for aquatic animals, with 
all test giving negative results.] 
 
30.4.2004              EN                       Official Journal of  the European Union                                         L 156/ 36 
 Reference Code No ORIGINAL 
 
or (17)[originate from the following continental farm:…………………,where (1)[SVC] (1)[and] (1)[IPN] (1)[and] 
(1)[BKD] have occurred within in the previous tw o years, but where the whole fish population has 
been withdrawn, and all ponds, tanks or other in stallations and equipment disinfected under the 
supervision of the competent authority, and where restocking has taken place with fish from a source 
certified free by the competent authority after sampling at least equivalent to those sampling 
programmes laid down in Commission Decision 2001/183/EC(12,13) or surveillance methods as 
described in the OIE(7) Manual of diagnostic tests for aquatic animals, Chapter 1.1.4 and the relevant 
disease chapters and as laboratory tests have been carried out accordance with the relevant chapters 
in the most current edition of the OIE Manual of di agnostic tests for aquatic animals, with all test 
giving negative results.] 
(18)[7.3. I, the undersigned official inspector, hereby certify that the (1)[live fish] (1)[and] (1)[eggs] (1)[and] (1)[gametes] referred 
to at point 5 this certificate, which is considered susceptible(5) to Gyrodactylus salaris , originate from a territory(2)  
            - where G. salaris  is notifiable to the competent authority, and reports of suspicion of infections must be 
immediately investigated by the official services,  
            - in which all introduction of species susceptible(5) to G. salaris  has come from a zone or farm declared free from 
G. salaris , 
            - where all farms raising species susceptible(5) to G. salaris  are under the supervision of the competent authority,  
            - where all necessary measures(14) are taken to prevent the introduction of diseases,  
             - that, in addition to the guarantees given in point 6 of this certificate, is approved by the competent authority  as 
having an equivalent health status to those zones within the Community, having additional guarantees with regard to 
Gyrodactylus salaris , as they;  
either (1)[originate from the following territory(2):…………………,which is considered free from Gyrodactylus 
salaris  in accordance with Annex I to Decision 2003/858/EC.] 
or (1)[originate from the following continental farm:…………………,which at the time of the year 
Gyrodactylus salaris  is expected to manifest itself, has been submitted for at least two years to 
inspections by the competent authorities, with sample size at least equivalent to those sampling 
programmes laid down in Commission Decision 2001/183/EC(12) and sampling and laboratory tests 
have been carried out in accordance with the releva nt chapters in the most current edition of the 
OIE(7) Manual of diagnostic tests for aquatic animals, with all test giving negative results; and the 
farm is either situated in a part(19) of a water catchment area declared free(20) from Gyrodactylus 
salaris , or situated in a water catchment area declared free(20) from G. salaris  and all other water 
catchment areas draining into the same estuary are declared free(20, 21) from G. salaris , and] 
or (1)[originate from the following coastal farm:…………………, wh ich is situated in an  coastal zone with a 
salinity below 25 parts per thousand, and where all water catchment areas draining into the estuary 
are declared free(20,21) of G. salaris , and.]  
or (1)[originate from the following coastal farm:…………………, which is situated in a coastal zone where 
the seawater has a salinity of more than 25 part s per thousand and no live fish of the susceptible 
species(5) have been introduced during the previous 14 days, and.]  
 or (9)[originate from the following farm:…………………,where th e eggs have been disinfected according to 
the OIE International Aquatic Animal He alth Code Sixth edition 2003, Appendix 5.2.1, ensuring the 
elimination G. salaris . ]  ] 
8. Transport requirements 
 Furthermore, they: 
– are placed under conditions that do not  alter their health status, and 
– have been placed in (1)[sealed watertight containers  which were cleaned and disinfected beforehand using an 
authorised disinfectant and which bear on the exterior a legible label] (1)[a well boat where the well and its pipe 
and pump systems were free of fish, cl eaned and disinfected using an aut horised disinfectant, and inspected 
before loading, carrying a manifest] with the relevant(22) information referred to in point 1, 2 and 3 of this 
certificate and with the following statement: 
either : 
["(1)[Live fish] (1)[and] (1)[Eggs] (1)[and] (1)[Gametes] certified for farming in  European Community zones and 
farms except those  with a Community approved programme or stat us, and additional guarantees with regard to: 
viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS), infectious haemat opoietic necrosis (IHN), spring viraemia of carp (SVC), 
infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) , bacterial kidney disease (BKD) and Gyrodactylus salaris ."] 
30.4.2004              EN                       Official Journal of  the European Union                                         L 156/ 37 
 Reference Code No ORIGINAL 
or: 
["Live fish of aquaculture origin certified  for restocking of put-and take fisheries in  European Community zones 
and farms except those  with a Community approved programme or status, additional guarantees or protective 
measures with regard to: viral haemo rrhagic septicaemia (VHS), infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN), spring 
viraemia of carp (SVC), infec tious pancreatic necrosis (IPN), bacterial kidney disease (BKD) and Gyrodactylus 
salaris ."] 
or:  
["(1)[Live fish] (1)[and] (1)[Eggs] (1)[and] (1)[Gametes] certified for farming in  European Community zones and 
farms including those  with a Community approved programme or status, additional guarantees or protective 
measures with regard to: (1)[viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS)] (1)[and] (1)[infectious haemat opoietic necrosis 
(IHN)] (1)[and] (1)[Spring viraemia of carp] (1)[and] (1)[Infectious pancreatic necrosis] (1)[and] (1)[Bacterial kidney 
disease] (1)[and]  (1)[Gyrodactylus salaris]."]  
or: 
["Live fish of aquaculture origin certified  for restocking of put-and take fisheries in  European Community zones 
and farms including those  with a Community approved programme or st atus, additional guaran tees or protective 
measures with regard to: (1)[viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS)] (1)[and] (1)[infectious haemat opoietic necrosis 
(IHN)] (1)[and] (1)[Spring viraemia of carp] (1)[and] (1)[Infectious pancreatic necrosis] (1)[and] (1)[Bacterial kidney 
disease] (1)[and]  (1)[Gyrodactylus salaris]"] 
 
Done at..................................................................................... , on............................... .............................................  
 (Place) (Date) 
Official stamp ................................................................................  
 (Signature of official inspector) 
 ................................................................................  
 (Name in capital letter, qualifications and title)  
 
Indicative notes  
(1) Retain as appropriate. 
(2) Territory (a whole country, or a zone or a farm) and code of territory as appearing in Annex I to Commission 
Decision 2003/858/EC. 
(3) Specify as applicable: zone, farm, or in case of live fish for human consumption, establishment. If the zone is 
specified under point 3.2, then the name of the farm, or in  case of live fish for human consumption, es tablishment, 
must be specified under point 3.3 
(4) The registration number(s) of rail-wagon or lorry and the na me of the ship should be given as appropriate. If known, 
the flight number of the aircraft shall be specified. 
 In case of transport in containers or boxes, the total numbe r, their registration and seal numbers, if present, shall be 
indicated under point 4.3 
(5) Known susceptible species, see table below  
Disease Susceptible host species* 
ISA Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ), rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ), brown 
trout ( Salmo trutta ), 
EHN Redfin perch ( Perca fluviatilis ), rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ), 
Macquarie perch ( Macquaria australasica ), silver perch ( Bidyanus bidyanus ), 
mountain galaxias ( Galaxias olidus ), sheatfish ( Silurus glanis ), catfish ( Ictalurus 
melas ) and mosquito fish ( Gambusa affinis ) and other species belonging to the 
family Poeciliidae 
VHS Fish belonging to the family Salmonideae , grayling ( Thymallus thymallus ), white 
fish ( Coregonus  spp.), pike ( Esox lucius ), turbot ( Scophthalmus maximus ), 
herring and sprat ( Clupea  spp.), Pacific salmon ( Oncorhynchus  spp.) , Atlantic 
cod ( Gadus morhua), Pacific cod ( G. macrocephalus ), haddock ( G. aeglefinus ) 
and rockling ( Onos mustelus ). 
30.4.2004              EN                       Official Journal of  the European Union                                         L 156/ 38 
IHN Fish belonging to the family Salmonidae, pike ( Esox lucius ) 
SVC Common carp and koi carp ( Cyprinus carpio ), grass carp ( Ctenopharyngodon 
idellus ), silver carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix ), bighead carp ( Aristichthys 
nobilis ), crucian carp ( Carassius carassius ), goldfish ( Carassius auratus ), tench 
(Tinca tinca ) and sheatfish ( Silurus glanis ) 
IPN Rainbow trout  (Oncorhynchus mykiss ), brook trout  (Salvelinus fontinalis ), brown 
trout ( Salmo trutta ), Atlantic salmon  (Salmo salar ), and several Pacific salmon 
species  (Oncorhynchus spp. ), 
BKD Fish belonging to the family Salmonidae  
Gyrodactylus salaris Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) Rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ), Arctic 
char (Salvelinus alpinus ), North American brook trout  (S. fontinalis ), grayling  
(Thymallus thymallus ), North American lake trout  (Salvelinus namaycush ) and 
brown trout  (Salmo trutta ). Other species of fish on sites where any of the above 
species are present shall also be considered as susceptible species. 
* And any other species referred to in the most recent edition of th e OIE International Aquatic Animal  Health Code and/or the OIE  
Manual of diagnostic tests for aquatic  animals as being susceptible for the pathogen/disease in question . 
 (6) As applicable 
(7) World Organisation for Animal Health  
(8) Only applicable for live fish, retain as appropriate.  
(9) Applicable to eggs only, retain as appropriate. 
(10) As laid down in Council Directive 91/67/EEC, specific anim al health requirements are n eeded in the case of exports 
to farms or zones within the EC with a Community approved programme or status, additional guarantees with 
regard to one or more of the diseases referred to in  list II and III of Annex A to Directive 91/67/EEC.  
(11) Specific requirements needed in the case of exports to farms or zones within the EC with a Community approved 
programme or status for viral haemo rrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and/or infe ctious haematopoietic  necrosis (IHN) 
respectively. 
(12) "Model A or B" as laid down in Decision 2001/183/EC, as well as the requirements in Directives 91/67/EEC and 
93/53/EEC, retain as appropriate 
(13) In accordance with Directives 91/67/EEC and 93/ 53/EEC, and Decision 2001/183/EC; new farms which commence 
activity with fish, eggs and gametes that have an equiva lent health status according to the central competent 
authority of the exporting country to those farms and zone s approved in the EC with regard to VHS and/or IHN 
respectively, and otherwise meet the re quirements in Annex C I.A, 6(a) to Directive 91/67/EEC; or farms which 
recommence their activities after officially supervised cleaning and disinfection and 15 days of fallowing, and 
which introduce only fish, eggs and gametes that have an equivalent health stat us according to the central competent 
authority of the exporting country to those farms and zone s approved in the EC with regard to VHS and/or IHN 
respectively and otherwise meet the requirements in Anne x C I.A, 6(b) to Directive 91/67/EEC.  Retain as 
appropriate 
(14) Not applicable to coastal or continental zones with no fa rms. High bio-security level must be maintained. Fish from 
non-approved farms or zones must not be introduced into a pproved farms and zones. Ponds with susceptible species 
should be covered or be located at a safe distance fro m non-approved farms. Uncontro lled public access should be 
prevented. The site must not be used for angling purposes  unless under conditions authoris ed and supervised by the 
local competent authority.   
(15) Specific additional requirements needed in the case of e xports to Member States or parts of Member States within 
the EC with Community approved free status or contro l and eradication programmes (additional guarantees) as 
regards spring viraemia of carp (SVC), infectious pancreatic necr osis (IPN), and/or bacteria l kidney disease (BKD), 
according  to Commission Decision 2004/xxxx/EC [SANCO/10022/2004 rev 4].  
(16) Applicable to species susceptible to SVC, IPN and/or  BKD only, introduced into areas with additional guarantees 
for SVC, IPN and/or BKD. Retain as applicable. 
(17)  Applicable only to continental farms where epizootiolo gical investigations have show n that the disease has not   
spread to other farms or into the wild. Retain as applicable.  
(18) Specific additional requirements needed in the case of e xports to Member States or parts of Member States within 
the EC with Community approved free st atus (additional guarantees) as regards Gyrodactylus salaris   according to  
Commission Decision 2004/xxxx/EC [SANCO/10022/2004 rev4]. 
(19) According to Annex B, I A to Directive 91/67/EEC a pa rt of a water catchment area can only be declared free from 
a disease if it consists of  the upper part of the catchment area from its sources of the waterways to a natural or 
artificial barrier preventing fish migr ating from downstream of that barrier. 
(20)  According to the requirements in Annex I, Ch apter 1.B of Decision 2004/xxxx/EC [SANCO/10022/2004 R4].   
30.4.2004              EN                       Official Journal of  the European Union                                         L 156/ 39 
(21)  When declaring continental zones free of Gyrodactylus salaris , it must be taken into a ccount that the disease may 
spread my migrating fish between different continental zo nes if the salinity between them is low or intermediate 
(below 25 ppt).  Hence one individual continental zone can not  be declared free if another continental zone draining 
into the same coastal zone is  infected or has unknown status, unless they are separated by seawater with salinity 
above 25 ppt . 
(22) Country and territory of origin (code) and of des tination; name and telephone number of the consignor and 
consignee. In case of a transport with well boat, the transport route from the place of loading to the place of 
destination should be given. 
“ 
30.4.2004              EN                       Official Journal of  the European Union                                         L 156/ 40 
ANNEX III  
“ANNEX III 
Explanatory notes 
(a) The certificates shall be produced by the competent 
authorities of the exporting country, based on the 
appropriate model appearing in Annex II, IV, or V to 
this Decision taking into account the use to which the 
fish are to be put after the arrival to the EC.  
(b) Considering the status of the place of destination as 
regards viral haemorrhag ic septicaemia (VHS), 
infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN), spring 
viraemia of carp (SVC), bacterial kidney disease 
(BKD), infectious pancreat ic necrosis (IPN) and 
Gyrodactylus salaris  (G. salaris ) in the EC Member 
State, the appropriate specific additional requirements 
shall be incorporated and completed in the certificate. 
(c) The original of each certificate shall consist of a single 
page, double-sided, or, where more than one page is required, it shall be in such a form that all pages form 
part of an integrated whole and are indivisible. 
 It shall, on the right hand side of the top of each page, 
be marked as "original" and bear a specific code 
number issued by the competent authority. All pages 
of the certificate shall be numbered - (page number)  of 
(total number of pages) . 
(d) The original of the certificate and the labels referred to 
in the model certificate shall be drawn up in at least one 
official language of the EC Member State in which the 
inspection at the border post shall be carried out and of 
the EC Member State of destination. However, these 
Member States may allow other languages, if 
necessary, accompanied by an official translation. (e) The original of the certificate must be completed on the 
day of loading the consignment for exportation to the 
EC with an official stamp and signed by an official 
inspector designated by the competent authority. In 
doing so, the competent authority of the exporting 
country shall ensure that th e principles of  certification 
equivalent to those laid down in Council Directive 
96/93/EC are followed. 
 The stamp, unless embossed, and the signature shall be 
in a colour different to that of the printing.  
(f) If for reasons of identification of the items of the 
consignment, additional pa ges are attached to the 
certificate, these pages shall be considered as forming 
part of the original and be signed and stamped by the 
certifying official inspector on each page. 
(g) The original of the certificate must accompany the 
consignment until it reaches the EC border inspection 
post. 
(h) The certificate shall be valid for 10 days from the date 
of issue. In the case of transport by ship, the time of 
validity is prolonged by the time of journey at sea.  
(i) The fish, their eggs and gametes, shall not be 
transported together with other fish, eggs or gametes 
that, either are not destined to EC, or are of a lower 
health status. Furthermore, they must not be 
transported under any other conditions that alter their 
health status. 
(j) The possible presence of pathogens in the water is 
relevant for considering the health status of live fish, eggs and gametes. The ce rtifying officer should 
therefore consider the following: 
The “Place of origin” should be the localisation of the 
farm where the fish, eggs or gametes was reared 
reaching their commercial size relevant for the 
consignment covered by this certificate. 
“