2003/634/EC: Commission Decision of 28 August 2003 approving programmes for the purpose of obtaining the status of approved zones and of approved farms in non-approved zones with regard to viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN) in fish (Text with EEA relevance) (notified under document number C(2003) 3101)
Date: 2003-08-28
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, aquaculture, fish, fish disease, health control, veterinary inspection

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Official Journal of the European Union

3.9.2003

COMMISSION DECISION

of 28 August 2003

approving programmes for the purpose of obtaining the status of approved zones and of approved
farms in non-approved zones with regard to viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and infectious
haematopoietic necrosis (IHN) in fish

(notified under document number C(2003) 3101)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2003/634/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 10(2) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

Pursuant to Directive 91/67/EEC a Member State may
submit to the Commission a programme designed to
enable it subsequently to initiate the procedures for a
zone or a farm situated in a non-approved zone to
obtain the status of approved zone or approved farm
situated in a non-approved zone, as regards one or more
of the fish diseases viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS)
and infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN).

Certain Member States submitted such programmes,
which were approved by Commission Decision 2002/
304/EC (3), as last amended by Decision 2003/376/
EC (4).

and whitefish (Coregonus

By letters dated 12 March 2003 and 12 June 2003, the
veterinary authority of Finland asked for an amendment
to the programme listed in Annex I(6B) to Decision
2002/304/EC. In order to preserve the vulnerable species
Baltic salmon (Salmo salar), sea trout (Salmo trutta m
trutta)
lavaretus),
restocking in the River Kymijoki and River Summanjoki
watercourse is necessary. Finland has submitted amend-
ments to its programme providing for transfer of live
eggs from wild fish from the Pyhtää restriction zone
provided that all appropriate measures are taken to
ensure that the eggs are free of VHS and IHN. Delimita-
tion of the zone as established in Annex I to Decision
2002/304/EC does not change.

lavaretus

Italy proposed an amendment

By letter dated 4 March 2003, the veterinary authority
of
to the programme
listed in point 5.1 of Annex I to Decision 2002/304/EC.
In order to increase the level of protection as regards
introduction of
fish into the area covered by the
programme, live trout and other fish destined to restau-
rants for direct consumption as well as rainbow trout

(1) OJ L 46, 19.2.1991, p. 1.
(2) OJ L 189, 3.7.1998, p. 12.
(3) OJ L 104, 20.4.2002, p. 37.
(4) OJ L 130, 27.5.2003, p. 21.

intended for introduction into certain artificial lakes or
fish water, must come from farms or areas recognised as
free of VHS and IHN. Delimitation of the zone as estab-
lished in Annex I to Decision 2002/304/EC does not
change.

(5)

(6)

(7)

The amendments submitted have been found to comply
with Article 10 of Directive 91/67/EEC and should
therefore be approved.

Decision 2002/304/EC has been amended several times.
In the interests of clarity and rationality,
it should be
repealed and replaced by this Decision.

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

The programmes listed in Annex I, submitted under
1.
Article 10(1) of Directive 91/67/EEC for
the purpose of
obtaining approved zone status with regard to one or more of
the fish diseases viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) and
infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN), are hereby approved.

2.
The programmes listed in Annex II, submitted under
the purpose of
Article 10(1) of Directive 91/67/EEC for
obtaining status as approved farm situated in a non-approved
zone with regard to one or more of the fish diseases VHS and
IHN, are hereby approved.

Article 2

The Member States concerned shall bring into force the laws,
regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply
with the approved programmes.

Article 3

Decision 2002/304/EC is hereby repealed.

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

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This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Article 4

Done at Brussels, 28 August 2003.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

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Official Journal of the European Union

3.9.2003

ANNEX I

PROGRAMMES SUBMITTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING APPROVED ZONE STATUS WITH
REGARD TO ONE OR MORE OF THE FISH DISEASES VHS AND IHN

1. DENMARK

THE PROGRAMMES SUBMITTED BY DENMARK ON 22 MAY 1995 COVERING:

— the catchment area of FISKEBÆK Å,

— all PARTS OF JUTLAND south and west of the catchment areas of Storåen, Karup å, Gudenåen and Grejs å,

— the area of all the DANISH ISLES.

2.

GERMANY

THE PROGRAMMES SUBMITTED BY GERMANY ON 25 FEBRUARY 1999 COVERING:

— a zone in the water catchment area of ‘WOLFEGGER AACH AND ROHRSEE’,

— a zone in the water catchment area ‘OBERN NAGOLD’.

3.

SPAIN

THE PROGRAMME SUBMITTED BY SPAIN ON 1 AUGUST 2002 COVERING:

— the AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY OF LA RIOJA.

4.

FRANCE

THE PROGRAMMES SUBMITTED BY FRANCE ON 16 SEPTEMBER 1994 COVERING:

— LES FORGES,

— LA NIVE AND LES NIVELLES,

— L'ÉLORN.

5.

ITALY

5.1. THE PROGRAMME SUBMITTED BY ITALY IN THE AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE OF BOLZANO ON 6 OCTOBER

2001 AS AMENDED BY LETTER OF 27 MARCH 2003, COVERING:

Zona Province of Bolzano

— The zone comprises all water catchment areas within the Province of Bolzano.

The zone includes the upper part of the zone ZONA VAL DELL'ADIGE — i.e. the water catchment areas of
Adige river from its sources in the Province of Bolzano to the border with the Province of Trento.

(N.B. The remaining, lower part of the zone ZONA VAL DELL'ADIGE is under the approved programme of
the Autonomous Province of Trento. The upper and lower parts of this zone have to be viewed as one
epidemiological unit.)

5.2. THE PROGRAMMES SUBMITTED BY ITALY IN THE AUTONOMOUS PROVINCE OF TRENTO ON 23 DECEMBER

1996 AND 14 JULY 1997 COVERING:

Zona Val di Sole e di Non

— The water catchment area from the source of the stream Noce to the dam of S. Giustina

Zona val dell'Adige — lower part

— The water catchment areas of the Adige river and its sources located within the territory of the Autonomous
Province of Trento, from the border with the Province of Bolzano to the dam of Ala (hydroelectric generating
station)

(N.B. The upstream part of the zone ZONA VAL DELL'ADIGE is under the approved programme of the
Province of Bolzano. The upper and lower parts of this zone have to be viewed as one epidemiological
unit.)

Zona Torrente Arnò

— The water catchment area from the source of Arnò torrent to the downstream barriers, situated before the Arnò

torrent flows into the Sarca river

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Zona Val Banale

— The water catchment area of the Ambies stream basin to the dam of a hydroelectric generating station

Zona Varone

— The water catchment area from the source of the Magnone stream to the waterfall

Zona Alto e Basso Chiese

— The water catchment area of the Chiese river from the source to the dam of Condino, except the Adanà and

Palvico torrents basins

Zona Torrente Palvico

— The water catchment area of the Palvico torrent basin to a barrier made of concrete and stones

5.3. THE PROGRAMME SUBMITTED BY ITALY IN THE REGION OF VENETO ON 21 FEBRUARY 2001 COVERING:

Zona Torrente Astico

— The water catchment area of Astico river, from its sources (in the Autonomous Province of Trento and in the
Provice of Vicenza, the Region of Veneto) to the dam located close to the Pedescala bridge in the Provice of
Vicenza

The downstream part of Astico river, between the dam close to the Pedescala bridge and the Pria Maglio dam,
is considered as a buffer zone

5.4. THE PROGRAMME SUBMITTED BY ITALY IN THE REGION OF UMBRIA ON 20 FEBRUARY 2002 COVERING:

Zona Fosso de Monterivoso: the water catchment area of Monterivoso river, from its sources to the impassible
barriers near Ferentillo

5.5. THE PROGRAMME SUBMITTED BY ITALY IN THE REGION OF LOMBARDIA ON 1 FEBRUARY 2002

COVERING:

Zona Val Brembana: the water catchment area of Brembo river, from its sources to the impassible barrier in the
commune de Ponte S. Pietro

6.

FINLAND

6.1. THE PROGRAMME SUBMITTED BY FINLAND ON 29 MAY 1995 COVERING:

— All continental and coastal areas of FINLAND except the Province of Åland and the restriction area in Pyhtää

6.2. THE PROGRAMME INCLUDING SPECIFIC ERADICATION MEASURES SUBMITTED BY FINLAND ON 29 MAY

1995, AS AMENDED BY LETTERS OF 12 MARCH AND 12 JUNE 2003 COVERING:

— The whole PROVINCE OF ÅLAND and the restriction area in PYHTÄÄ

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Official Journal of the European Union

3.9.2003

ANNEX II

PROGRAMMES SUBMITTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING STATUS AS APPROVED FARM
SITUATED IN A NON-APPROVED ZONE WITH REGARD TO ONE OR MORE OF THE FISH DISEASES VHS
AND IHN

1.

ITALY

1.1. THE PROGRAMME SUBMITTED BY ITALY IN THE REGION: FRIULI VENEZIA GIULIA, PROVINCE OF UDINE,

ON 2 MAY 2000 COVERING:

Farms in the drainage basin of the Tagliamento river:

— Azienda Vidotti Giulio snc, Sutrio

1.2. THE PROGRAMME SUBMITTED BY ITALY IN THE REGION OF VENETO ON 5 APRIL 2002 COVERING:

Farms in the drainage basin of the Sile river:

— Azienda Troticoltura S. Cristina, Via Chiesa Vecchia 14 — Loc. S. Cristina di Quinto