2002/878/EC: Commission Decision of 6 November 2002 establishing the sampling plans and diagnostic methods for the detection and confirmation of the presence of the mollusc diseases Bonamiosis (Bonamia ostreae) and Marteiliosis (Marteilia refringens) (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2002) 4327)
Date: 2002-11-06
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: animal disease, health control, medical diagnosis, mollusc, sampling, veterinary inspection

7.11.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

L 305/57

COMMISSION

COMMISSION DECISION

of 6 November 2002

establishing the sampling plans and diagnostic methods for the detection and confirmation of the
the mollusc diseases Bonamiosis (Bonamia ostreae) and Marteiliosis (Marteilia
presence of

refringens)

(notified under document number C(2002) 4327)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2002/878/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 91/67/EEC of 28 January
1991 concerning the animal health conditions governing the
placing on the market of aquaculture animals and products (1),
as last amended by Directive 98/45/EC (2), and in particular
Article 15 thereof,

Whereas:

(3)

(4)

(5)

Decision 94/306/EC should therefore be repealed and
replaced by this Decision.

A sufficient period of time should be provided for the
implementation of these new requirements.

The measures provided for in this Decision are in accor-
dance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on
the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

(1)

(2)

In order to take into account developments in scientific
knowledge, practical experience and international guide-
lines, the plans and methods laid down by Commission
Decision 94/306/EC of 16 May 1994 laying down the
sampling plans and diagnostic methods for the detection
and confirmation of certain mollusc diseases (3) need to
be updated.

The sampling and diagnostic methods to be carried out for the
detection and confirmation of bonamiosis (Bonamia ostreae) and
in molluscs in the case of
marteiliosis (Marteilia refringens)
abnormal mortality and for the recognition of approved (free)
zones and farms are laid down in the Annex.

Experts have agreed that the sampling plans and diag-
nostic methods laid down in the current edition of the
International Office of Epizootics
(OIE) Diagnostic
Manual for Aquatic Animal Diseases as regards Bona-
miosis (Bonamia ostreae) and Marteiliosis (Marteilia refrin-
gens) and as regards abnormal mortality are appropriate.
Therefore, sampling and diagnosis for these diseases in
relation to recognition of approved zones and farms and
for the examination of stocks where abnormal mortal-
ities occur should be carried out in line with the Third
Edition, 2000, of this Manual.

Article 2

Decision 94/306/EC is repealed.

References to the repealed Decision shall be construed as refer-
ences to this Decision.

(1) OJ L 46, 19.2.1991, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 189, 3.7.1998, p. 12.
(3) OJ L 133, 28.5.1994, p. 51.

Article 3

This Decision shall apply from 6 January 2003.

L 305/58

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

7.11.2002

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 4

Done at Brussels, 6 November 2002.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

ANNEX

Sampling and diagnostic methods for the detection and confirmation of bonamiosis (bonamia ostreae) and
marteiliosis (marteilia refringens)

The sampling and diagnostic methods to be carried out, including the techniques, examination procedures and media
used, their standardisation and the interpretation of the results, for the detection and confirmation of bonamiosis
(Bonamia ostreae) and marteiliosis (Marteilia refringens) in molluscs in the case of abnormal mortality and for the recogni-
tion of approved (free) zones and farms must conform to those specified in the OIE Diagnostic Manual for Aquatic
Animal Diseases Third Edition, 2000, Part 3 Diseases of molluscs: Chapter I.2 (General information), Chapter 3.1.1
(bonamiosis) and Chapter 3.1.3 (marteiliosis).