EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision of 9 September 2004 approving the scheme submitted by Norway for the withdrawal of all fish in Norwegian farms infected with infectious salmon anaemia (ISA)
Date: 2004-09-09
Institutions: EFTA Surveillance Authority
Subjects: EFTA, European Economic Area, Norway, aquaculture, disease prevention, fish disease, veterinary inspection

23.12.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 319/65

EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY DECISION

of 9 September 2004

approving the scheme submitted by Norway for the withdrawal of all fish in Norwegian farms
infected with infectious salmon anaemia (ISA)

(2004/C 319/10)

THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY,

Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (hereinafter referred to as the EEA
Agreement), in particular Article 109 and Protocol 1 thereof,

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

Having regard to the Act referred to at Point 3.1.7 of Chapter I of Annex I to the EEA Agreement, Council
Directive 93/53/EEC of 24 June 1993 introducing minimum Community measures for the control of
certain fish diseases, as amended, as adapted by way of Protocol 1 to the EEA Agreement, in particular the
first indent of Article 6(a) of that Act,

Having regard to the EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 196/04/COL of 14 July 2004 empowering
the Member with special responsibility for the free movement of goods to take certain decisions and
measures, and in particular Point 1 thereof,

Whereas the first indent of Article 6(a) of the Act lays down that, in order to control an outbreak of infec-
tious salmon anaemia (ISA), all fish in an infected farm shall be withdrawn in accordance with a scheme
established by the official service and approved by the EFTA Surveillance Authority (hereinafter referred to
as the Authority),

Whereas the Act referred to at Point 3.2.29 of Chapter I of Annex I to the EEA Agreement, Commission
Decision 2003/466/EC of 13 June 2003 establishing criteria for zoning and official surveillance following
suspicion or confirmation of the presence of infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) lays down the sampling
plans and diagnostic methods for the detection and confirmation of ISA, as well as criteria for zoning and
official surveillance following suspicion or confirmation of ISA,

Whereas Norway, by its letter of 30 January 2003 and the clarification in its letter of 7 April 2004, has
requested the Authority's approval of the Norwegian scheme for withdrawal of all fish in farms infected
with ISA virus as foreseen in Article 6 of the Act and based on the criteria included in Decision
2003/466/EC,

Whereas the Authority, in close co-operation with the Commission of the European Communities, has
examined the scheme submitted by Norway in the light of the current state of scientific and technical
evidence,

Whereas the withdrawal of fish shall be carried out in a way in which the aim is to prevent further spread
of the disease to other farms and to the wild population susceptible to this infection,

Whereas the withdrawal of fish must be based on a case-by-case analysis of the risks for further spread of
the disease, including the seriousness of the outbreak and other circumstances influencing the risks, and
must take into account current practical experience and scientific evidence,

Whereas the examination shows that the scheme submitted by Norway fulfils the requirements for such a
scheme and therefore is to be approved,

Whereas the EFTA Surveillance Authority by its Decision 222/04/COL referred the matter to the EFTA
Veterinary Committee assisting the EFTA Surveillance Authority,

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

C 319/66

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

23.12.2004

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

1. The scheme submitted by Norway for the withdrawal of all fish in Norwegian farms infected with infec-

tious salmon anaemia (ISA) is hereby approved.

2. This Decision shall enter into force on 15 September 2004.

3. This Decision is addressed to Norway.

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

Done at Brussels, 9 September 2004.

For the EFTA Surveillance Authority

Bernd HAMMERMANN

College Member

Niels FENGER

Director