Decision of the EFTA surveillance authority No 155/03/COL of 18 July 2003 approving the programme with a view to obtaining the status of approved zone with regard to the fish diseases viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN) submitted by Iceland
Date: 2003-07-18
Institutions: EFTA Surveillance Authority
Subjects: Iceland, aquaculture, fish disease, veterinary inspection

L 265/38

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

16.10.2003

II

(Acts whose publication is not obligatory)

EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA

EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY

DECISION OF THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY

No 155/03/COL

of 18 July 2003

approving the programme with a view to obtaining the status of approved zone with regard to
the fish diseases viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and infectious haematopoietic necrosis
(IHN) submitted by Iceland

THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY,

Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic
Area (hereinafter referred to as ‘the EEA Agreement’), in parti-
cular Article 109 thereof and Protocol 1 thereto,

Having regard to the Agreement between the EFTA States on
the establishment of a Surveillance Authority and a Court of
Justice, and in particular Article 5(2)(d) thereof and Protocol 1
thereto,

Having regard to the Act referred to at point 4.1.5 of Chapter I
of Annex I to the EEA Agreement concerning the animal health
conditions governing the placing on the market of aquaculture
animals and products (Council Directive 91/67/EEC), as last
amended by Council Directive 98/45/EC, as adapted by way of
Protocol 1 to the EEA Agreement and by sectoral adaptations
to Annex I to the same Agreement, and in particular Article
10(2) of the Act,

Whereas the Government of Iceland on 7 July 1999 submitted
to the EFTA Surveillance Authority a programme designed in
order to obtain the status of approved zone for viral haemor-
rhagic
and infectious haematopoietic
septicaemia
necrosis (IHN), for its territory;

(VHS)

Whereas the Government of Iceland has provided the addi-
tional information requested from the Authority;

the programme and the additional

information
Whereas
submitted by the Government of Iceland identifies the geogra-
phical zone concerned, the measures to be taken by the official
services, the procedures to be followed by the laboratories, the
prevalence of the diseases in question and the measure to
combat them should they be detected;

Whereas an assessment of
the programme by an external
expert has shown it to comply with Article 10 of Council
Directive 91/67/EEC;

Having regard to the EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No
15/94/COL of 10 March 1994 empowering the Member with
special responsibility for free movement of goods to take
certain decisions and measures, and in particular point 1
thereof,

Whereas the assessment of the information provided by the
Government of Iceland has also documented that the health
status in Iceland with regard to the two diseases VHS and IHN
is at least equivalent to that of a zone in the European Union
which has approved status for both diseases;

Whereas in order to obtain, for one or more of the fish diseases
viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and infectious haemato-
poietic necrosis (IHN), the status of approved zone and of
approved fish farm situated in a non-approved zone, Member
States
the appropriate justifications and the
national rules ensuring compliance with the conditions laid
down in Directive 91/67/EEC;

submit

shall

Whereas the EFTA Surveillance Authority by its Decision 114/
03/COL referred the matter to the EFTA Veterinary Committee
assisting the EFTA Surveillance Authority;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in
the EFTA Veterinary
accordance with the opinion of
Committee assisting the EFTA Surveillance Authority,

16.10.2003

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 265/39

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

1. The programme submitted by Iceland on 7 July 1999 for the purpose of obtaining the status of
approved zone with regard to the fish diseases viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and infectious
haematopoietic necrosis (IHN) is hereby approved.

2. This Decision shall enter into force on 21 July 2003.

3. This Decision is addressed to Iceland.

4. This Decision shall be authentic in the English language.

Done at Brussels, 18 July 2003.

For the EFTA Surveillance Authority

Niels FENGER

Director