European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council directive on animal health requirements for aquaculture animals and products thereof, and on the prevention and control of certain diseases in aquatic animals (COM(2005)0362 - C6-0281/2005 - 2005/0153(CNS))
Date: 2006-04-27
Institutions: Committee on Fisheries, European Parliament
Subjects: aquaculture, consumer protection, fish disease, fish product, health legislation, veterinary inspection, veterinary legislation

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P6_TA(2006)0153

Health requirements for aquaculture animals and products *

European Parliament legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council directive on animal health
requirements for aquaculture animals and products thereof, and on the prevention and control of
certain diseases in aquatic animals (COM(2005)0362 — C6-0281/2005 — 2005/0153(CNS))

(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament,

— having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2005)0362) (1),

— having regard to Article 37 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament

(C6-0281/2005),

— having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Fisheries (A6-0091/2006),

1.

2.

3.

Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty;

Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if

4.
substantially;

it intends to amend the Commission proposal

5.

Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and Commission.

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AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 1
Recital 9a (new)

(9a) A mechanism, applicable only to the Member States
affected, should therefore be set up for adoption of the animal
health measures needed to ensure such protection, such as
measures to safeguard wild stocks of Atlantic salmon (Salmo
salar) from infection with Gyrodactylus salaris.

Amendment 4
Recital 28

local

For diseases not subject to Community control measures,
(28)
but which are of
importance, the aquaculture industry
should, with the assistance of the competent authorities of the
Member States, take more responsibility for controlling such
diseases through self regulation and the development of ‘codes
of practice’. However, it may be necessary, pending the estab-
lishment of such codes, for the Member States to implement
certain control measures. Such national control measures must
be justified, necessary and proportionate to the goals to be
achieved, and should not affect the trade between the Member
States.

local

For diseases not subject to Community control measures,
(28)
but which are of
importance, the aquaculture industry
should, with the assistance of the competent authorities of the
Member States, take more responsibility for controlling such
diseases through self regulation and the development of ‘codes
of practice’. However, it may be necessary, pending the estab-
lishment of such codes, for the Member States to implement
certain control measures. Such national control measures must
be justified, necessary and proportionate to the goals to be
achieved, and should not affect the trade between the Member
States unless this is necessary in order to control the disease,
and approved at Community level.

(1) Not yet published in OJ.

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AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 5
Recital 31

(31) Directive 2001/82/EC of 6 November 2001 of the Euro-
pean Parliament and of the Council on the Community code
relating to veterinary medicinal products and Regulation (EC)
No 726/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 31 March 2004 laying down Community procedures for the
authorisation and supervision of medicinal products for human
and veterinary use and establishing a European Medicines
Agency, require that, with only minor exceptions, all veterinary
medicinal products that are placed on the market within the
Community are to hold a marketing authorisation. In general,
all vaccines used in the Community should have a marketing
authorisation. However, the Member States may permit the use
of a product without a marketing authorisation in the event of a
serious epidemic subject to certain conditions,
in accordance
with Regulation (EC) No 726/2004. Vaccines against exotic and
emerging diseases in aquaculture animals may qualify for such
derogation.

(31) Directive 2001/82/EC of 6 November 2001 of the Euro-
pean Parliament and of the Council on the Community code
relating to veterinary medicinal products and Regulation (EC)
No 726/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 31 March 2004 laying down Community procedures for the
authorisation and supervision of medicinal products for human
and veterinary use and establishing a European Medicines
Agency, require that, with only minor exceptions, all veterinary
medicinal products that are placed on the market within the
Community are to hold a marketing authorisation. In general,
all vaccines used in the Community should have a marketing
authorisation. However, the Member States may permit the use
of a product without a marketing authorisation in the event of a
serious epizootic subject to certain conditions,
in accordance
with Regulation (EC) No 726/2004. Vaccines against exotic and
emerging diseases in aquaculture animals may qualify for such
derogation.

Amendment 6
Recital 31a (new)

(31a) The Commission should review its position on auth-
orising the placing of veterinary medicinal products on the
market. The authorisation to place a given veterinary medici-
nal product on the market in a specific Member State should
be valid and apply by extension to all Member States.

Amendment 7
Article 3, paragraph 1, point 5, point (a)

(a)

fish belonging to the classes Agnatha, Chondrichytes and
Osteichtyes;

(a)

jawless fish belonging to the super-class Agnatha;

Amendment 8
Article 3, paragraph 1, point 5, point (aa) (new)

(aa)

fish (Gnathostomata) belonging to the classes Actinop-

terygii and Chondrichthyes;

Amendment 9
Chapter II, heading

Aquaculture production businesses and authorised processing
establishments

Aquaculture production businesses and authorised processing
establishments and non-processing establishments (wrapping,
packaging, preparing and freezing)

Authorisation of aquaculture production businesses and pro-
cessing establishments

Authorisation of aquaculture production businesses and pro-
cessing and non-processing establishments

Amendment 10
Article 4, title

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Amendment 11
Article 4, paragraph 1, subparagraph 1

1. Member States shall ensure that every aquaculture produc-
tion business is duly authorised by the competent authority in
accordance with Article 5.

1. Member States shall ensure that every aquaculture produc-
tion establishment is duly authorised by the competent auth-
ority in accordance with Article 5.

Amendment 12
Article 4, paragraph 1, subparagraph 2

Where appropriate, such authorisation may cover several
aquaculture production businesses for molluscs in a mollusc
farming area.

Authorisation shall always be granted for individual estab-
lishments, even where they form part of the same business.

Amendment 13
Article 4, paragraph 2, subparagraph 1

2. Member States shall ensure that a sufficient number of
processing establishments on their territory are authorised for
the slaughtering and processing of aquaculture animals being
in
harvested and slaughtered for disease control purposes,
accordance with Chapter V.

2. Member States shall ensure that every processing estab-
lishment slaughtering aquaculture animals for disease control
purposes in accordance with Article 33 of Chapter V is duly
authorised by the competent authority in accordance with
Article 5.

Amendment 14
Article 4, paragraph 2, subparagraph 2

Those authorised processing establishments shall have an auth-
orisation issued by the competent authority in accordance with
Article 5.

deleted

Amendment 15
Article 4, paragraph 4

4. Member States may require that installations other than
aquaculture production businesses, where aquatic animals are
kept without the intention of being placed on the market and
put and take fisheries must be registered by the competent
authority.

4. Member States may require only the registration by the
competent authority of the following:

(a)

installations other than aquaculture production businesses,
where aquatic animals are kept without the intention of
being placed on the market;

(b) put and take fisheries;

(c)

aquaculture production businesses which place aquaculture
animals on the market solely for human consumption
as described in Article 1(3), point (c) of Regulation (EC)
No 853/2004.

In that case, the provisions of this Directive shall apply mutatis
mutandis taking into account the nature, characteristics and situ-
ations of the installation or put and take fishery concerned and
the risk of spreading aquatic animal diseases to other popu-
lations of aquatic animals as a result of its operation.

In those cases, the provisions of this Directive shall apply muta-
tis mutandis taking into account the nature, characteristics and
situations of the installation, put and take fishery or business
concerned and the risk of spreading aquatic animal diseases to
other populations of aquatic animals as a result of its operation.

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AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Supervision

Official controls

Amendment 16
Article 7, title

Amendment 17
Article 7, paragraph 1

The competent authority shall supervise aquaculture produc-
tion businesses and authorised processing establishments.

1.
In accordance with Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 882/
2004, official controls of aquaculture production businesses
and authorised processing establishments shall be carried out
by the competent authority.

Amendment 18
Article 7, paragraph 2

Such supervision shall at least consist of regular visits and
audits. The frequency of such visits and audits shall be deter-
mined taking account of the risk the aquaculture production
in
business and authorised processing establishment poses
relation to the spreading of disease to aquatic animals in the
vicinity of the aquaculture production business or authorised
processing establishment.

The official controls provided for in paragraph 1 shall at
2.
least consist of regular inspections, visits, audits and, where
appropriate, sampling, for each aquaculture production busi-
the risk the aquaculture production
ness, taking account of
business and authorised processing establishment poses
in
relation to the contracting and spreading of disease to aquatic
animals in the vicinity of the aquaculture production business
or authorised processing establishment in question. Recommen-
dations for the frequencies of such controls, for each health
status, are laid down in Annex IV.

Amendment 19
Article 7, paragraph 2a (new)

2a.
Detailed rules for the implementation of this Article
may be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to
in Article 62(2).

Recording obligations

Recording obligations — Traceability

Amendment 20
Article 8, title

Amendment 21
Article 8, paragraph 3a (new)

3a. Without prejudice to specific provisions on traceability,
Member States shall ensure that all movements of animals
recorded by the aquaculture production business operators as
provided for in paragraph 1, point (a) are registered in such a
way that the tracing of the place of origin and destination can
be guaranteed.

Member States may require such movements to be recorded on
a national register and kept in a computerised form.

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Amendment 22
Article 10, paragraph 2a (new)

2a.
The surveillance provided for in this Article shall be
carried out without prejudice to the sampling and surveillance
carried out in accordance with Chapter V or Article 49(3)
and Article 52.

Amendment 23
Article 10, paragraph 3

3. Minimum requirements for the animal health surveillance
scheme, for the diseases listed in Part II of Annex III, based on
the principles laid down in Annex IV, may be adopted in
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 62(2).

3. Minimum requirements for the animal health surveillance
scheme provided for in paragraph 1 may be adopted in accord-
ance with the procedure referred to in Article 62(2).

Traceability and certification

Animal health certification

Amendment 24
Article 14, title

Amendment 25
Article 14, paragraph 1

1. Member States shall ensure that placing on the market of
aquaculture animals for farming and restocking purposes,
including movement of molluscs between mollusc farming
areas, are reported using the computerised system provided for
in Article 20(1) of Council Directive 90/425/EEC.

1. Member States shall ensure that the placing on the market
of aquaculture animals is subject to animal health certification
when the animals are introduced into a Member State, zone or
compartment declared disease-free in accordance with Arti-
cle 49 and 50 for:

(a)

farming and restocking purposes;

(b) human consumption in accordance with point

(a) of
Article 18(1), point (a) of Article 18(2) and Article 19(2).

Amendment 26
Article 14, paragraph 2

Paragraph 1 of this Article shall also apply to aquaculture
2.
animals placed on the market
for human consumption in
accordance with point (a) of Article 18(1), point (a) of Arti-
cle 18(2) and Article 19(2).

2.
Paragraph 1 shall also apply to diseases and the species
susceptible thereto not listed in Part II of Annex III for
which national measures have been taken to control the dis-
ease in question and which are approved at Community level
in accordance with Article 43(3).

Amendment 27
Article 14, paragraph 3

3.
Paragraph 1 shall not apply when aquaculture animals
are moved inside a mollusc farming area or between different
farms belonging to one aquaculture production business, pro-
vided that the mollusc farming areas or the farms are within
the same Member State and, where applicable, within the
same disease-free zone or compartment.

Such movements shall be recorded by the aquaculture produc-
tion business operator.

deleted

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Amendment 28
Article 14, paragraph 4

4. Member States shall ensure that introduction of aquacul-
ture animals for farming and restocking purposes into other
Member States, zones or compartments declared disease-free in
accordance with Articles 49 and 50 are subject to animal health
certification.

4. Member States shall also ensure that the placing on the
market of aquaculture animals is subject to animal health cer-
tification when the animals are allowed to leave an area subject
to the control provisions provided for in sections 3, 4, 5 and 6
of Chapter V.

This paragraph shall also apply to diseases and the species
susceptible thereto not listed in Part II of Annex III.

This Article shall also apply to diseases and the species

5.
susceptible thereto not listed in Part II of Annex III.

deleted

Amendment 29
Article 14, paragraph 5

Amendment 30
Article 15, paragraph 1, subparagraph 1

1. Member States
shall ensure that aquaculture animals
placed on the market for farming do not come from a farm or
mollusc farming area where there has been any increased mor-
tality or a clinical outbreak of any disease within 31 days prior
to the date of placing on the market, unless such animals orig-
inate from a part of the farm or mollusc farming area epidemi-
ologically independent of the part where the increased mortality
or clinical signs of disease have occurred.

1. Member States
shall ensure that aquaculture animals
placed on the market for farming are clinically healthy and do
not come from a farm or mollusc farming area where there is
any unresolved increased mortality unless such animals orig-
inate from a part of the farm or mollusc farming area indepen-
dent of the epizootiological unit where the increased mortality
or clinical signs of disease have occurred.

Amendment 31
Article 15, paragraph 3, subparagraph 1, introductory wording

Aquaculture animals may only be released into the wild and
into put and take fisheries for restocking purposes if they:

Aquaculture animals may only be released into the wild for
restocking purposes or into put and take fisheries if they:

Amendment 32
Article 15, paragraph 3, subparagraph 2

However, Member States may decide that the aquaculture ani-
mals shall come from a zone or compartment, declared dis-
ease-free in accordance with Articles 49 or 50.

However, Member States may decide that the aquaculture ani-
mals shall come from a zone or compartment, declared dis-
ease-free in accordance with Articles 49 or 50. Member States
may also decide to apply this paragraph to programmes drawn
up and applied in accordance with Article 43.

Introduction of aquaculture animals of non-susceptible species
into disease-free areas

Introduction of aquaculture animals of potentially susceptible
or vector species into disease-free areas

Amendment 33
Article 17, title

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Amendment 34

Article 17, paragraph 1, introductory wording

1. Where scientific data or practical experience substantiates
that species other than those referred to in Part II of Annex III
as susceptible species can be responsible for the passive trans-
mission of a specific disease, such carrier species shall, where
introduced into a Member State, zone or compartment declared
free of
that specific disease in accordance with Articles 49
or 50:

1. Where scientific data or practical experience substantiates
that species other than those referred to in Part II of Annex III
as susceptible species can be responsible for the passive trans-
mission of a specific disease, Member States shall ensure that,
where introduced into a Member State, zone or compartment
declared free of that specific disease in accordance with Arti-
cles 49 or 50, such carrier species:

Amendment 35

Article 17, paragraph 1, point (b)

(b) be held in quarantine facilities in water free of the pathogen
in question for a period of time sufficient to reduce to an
acceptable level the risk of passive transmission of the spe-
cific disease.

(b) be held in quarantine facilities in water free of the pathogen
in question for an appropriate period of time where, in the
light of the scientific data provided, this proves to be suf-
ficient to reduce the risk of transmission of the specific
disease to a level acceptable for preventing the spreading
of the disease concerned.

Amendment 36

Article 17, paragraph 2

2.
Paragraph 1 shall not apply where scientific data or prac-
tical experience substantiates that carrier species at certain life
stages do not transmit the specific disease in question.

2.
Paragraph 1 shall not apply where scientific data or prac-
tical experience substantiates that such species at certain life
stages do not transmit the specific disease in question.

Amendment 37

Article 17, paragraph 3

A list of carrier species and life stages to which this Arti-
3.
cle shall apply, shall be adopted and when necessary amended
to take account of scientific and technological developments in
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 62(2)

life
A list of potentially susceptible or vector species,
3.
stages of such species to which this Article applies and, where
appropriate, the conditions in which those species can trans-
mit a disease, shall be adopted and when necessary amended to
take account of scientific and technological developments in
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 62(2).

Amendment 38

Article 17, paragraph 3a (new)

A Member State which can provide scientific data or
3a.
practical experience demonstrating that species other than
those referred to in Part II of Annex III as susceptible species
may be responsible for the transmission of a specific disease
shall forward such data to the Commission in order for that
species to be included on the list.

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Amendment 39

Article 17, paragraph 3b (new)

3b.
Pending a decision on possible inclusion of that species
on the list referred to in paragraph 3, the Commission may
decide,
in accordance with the procedure referred to in
Article 62(3), that Member States shall apply the provisions
laid down in paragraph 1 of this Article.

Amendment 40

Article 17, paragraph 3c (new)

3c.
Pending that later decision, where a Member State has
established that the introduction of a species not referred to as
susceptible to the disease in question is likely to constitute a
serious threat to animal health in a Member State, zone or
compartment declared free of that specific disease in accord-
ance with Article 49 or 50, it may take interim protective
measures in accordance with Article 10 of Directive 90/425/
EEC and Article 9 of Council Directive 89/662/EEC of
11 December 1989 concerning veterinary checks in intra-
Community trade with a view to completion of the internal
market (1).

(1) OJ L 395, 30.12.1989, p. 13. Directive as last amended by
Directive 2004/41/EC of the European Parliament and of the
Council (OJ L 157, 30.4.2004, p. 33).

Amendment 41

Article 32, point (ca) (new)

(ca)

any additional measures necessary are implemented to

prevent the further spread of the disease.

Amendment 42

Article 36, paragraph 1a (new)

Special attention shall be paid to stocking densities which
increase the concentration of pathogens.

Amendment 43

Article 38, paragraph 1

In the case of confirmation of a non-exotic disease listed
1.
in Part II of Annex III in a Member State, zone or compartment
declared free of that disease, the Member State concerned shall
apply the measures provided for in Section 3 in order to regain
such disease-free status.

In the case of confirmation of a non-exotic disease listed
1.
in Part II of Annex III in a Member State, zone or compartment
declared free of that disease, the Member State concerned shall
apply the measures provided for in Section 3 in order to regain
such disease-free status, or draw up a control and eradication
programme in accordance with Article 44(1).

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Amendment 44

Article 39, paragraph 2, point (d)

(d)

the supervision of

the removal and disposal of dead fish and crustaceans,
the competent authority in
under
accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002,
in an
appropriate timeframe taking into account the type of pro-
duction and the risk such dead animals pose for further
spread of the disease.

(d)

the removal and disposal of dead fish, crustaceans and mol-
luscs, under the supervision of the competent authority in
accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002,
in an
appropriate timeframe taking into account the type of pro-
duction and the risk such dead animals pose for further
spread of the disease.

Amendment 45

Article 40, paragraph 1

1. Where wild aquatic animals are infected or suspected of
being infected with exotic diseases listed in Part II of Annex III,
the Member State concerned shall monitor the situation, and
take the necessary measures to prevent the further spreading of
the disease.

1. Where wild aquatic animals are infected or suspected of
being infected with exotic diseases listed in Part II of Annex III,
the Member State concerned shall monitor the situation, and
take the necessary measures to prevent the further spreading of
the disease and avoid infections in future.

National provisions for limiting the impact of diseases not listed
in Part II of Annex III

Provisions for limiting the impact of diseases not listed in Part II
of Annex III

Amendment 46

Article 43, title

Amendment 47

Article 43, paragraph 1

1. Where a disease not listed in Part II of Annex III consti-
tutes a significant risk for the aquatic animal health situation or
the environment in a Member State, the Member State con-
cerned may take measures to control that disease.

1. Where a disease not listed in Part II of Annex III consti-
tutes a significant risk for the aquaculture animal health situ-
ation or wild aquatic animals in a Member State, the Member
State concerned may take measures to control that disease.

Amendment 48

Article 43, paragraph 2

2. Member States shall ensure that
the national control
measures referred to in paragraph 1 do not exceed the limits of
what is appropriate and necessary in order to control the dis-
ease as referred to in paragraph 1.

2. Member States shall ensure that the control measures ref-
erred to in paragraph 1 do not exceed the limits of what is
appropriate and necessary in order to control the disease as
referred to in paragraph 1.

Amendment 49

Article 43, paragraph 3, subparagraph 1

3. Member States shall ensure that any national measures
referred to in paragraph 1 that may affect
trade between
Member States are not applied before they are approved in
accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 62(2).

3. Member States shall ensure that any measures referred to
in paragraph 1 that may affect trade between Member States are
not applied before they are approved in accordance with the
procedure referred to in Article 62(2).

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Amendment 50
Article 43, paragraph 3, subparagraph 2, point (a)

(a)

the establishment of intra-Community trade restrictions is
unavoidable in order to control the disease;

(a)

the establishment of intra-Community trade restrictions is
necessary to control the disease;

Amendment 51
Article 44, paragraph 1, subparagraph 1

1. Where a Member State not declared free of one or more
of the non-exotic diseases listed in Part II of Annex III, draws up
a control and eradication programme (‘the programme’) for
achieving disease-free status for one or more of those diseases,
it shall submit that programme for approval in accordance with
the procedure referred to in Article 62(3).

1. Where a Member State not known to be infected but not
declared free of one or more of the non-exotic diseases listed in
Part II of Annex III, draws up a control programme for achiev-
ing disease-free status for one or more of those diseases, it shall
submit that programme for approval
in accordance with the
procedure referred to in Article 62(2).

Amendment 52
Article 44, paragraph 1a (new)

1a. Where a Member State known to be infected by one or
more of the non-exotic diseases listed in Part II of Annex III
draws up a control and eradication programme for one or
more of those diseases, it shall submit that programme for
approval
in accordance with the procedure referred to in
Article 62(2). Such programmes may also be amended or
terminated in accordance with that procedure.

Amendment 53
Article 44, paragraph 2

2.
An overview of the programmes approved in accordance
with paragraph 1 of this Article shall be made available at
Community level in accordance with the procedures provided
for in Article 51.

2.
An overview of the programmes approved in accordance
with paragraphs 1 and 1a shall be made available at Commun-
in accordance with the procedures provided for in
ity level
Article 51.

Amendment 54
Article 48, paragraph 2, subparagraph 1

2. Member States shall ensure that vaccination against the
non-exotic diseases listed in Part II of Annex III is prohibited
in any parts of their territory declared free of the diseases in
question, or covered by approved control and eradication pro-
grammes.

2. Member States shall allow vaccination in areas declared
free of one or more diseases if such diseases affect neighbour-
ing areas which are not free of the diseases in question.

Amendment 55
Article 48a (new)

Article 48a

Use of antibiotics

1.
The purchase and use of antibiotics to combat certain
diseases in fish shall comply with the Community legislation
in force in the matter.

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The Member States may not adopt measures restricting
2.
the purchase and use of certain antibiotics which might
undermine and/or contravene the laws of the market-place
and competitiveness between Member States.

3.
The Member States shall ensure that the antibiotics used
are authorised in accordance with the legislation in force in
the matter.

Amendment 56

Article 50, paragraph 1, introductory wording

1.
The central competent authority of a Member State may,
after having informed the Commission and the other Member
States thereof, and after having, on request, submitted the sup-
porting evidence therefore, declare the disease-free status of a
zone or compartment within its territory of one or more of
the non-exotic diseases listed in Part II of Annex III where:

1.
A Member State may declare the disease-free status of a
zone or compartment within its territory of one or more of
the non-exotic diseases listed in Part II of Annex III where:

Amendment 57

Article 50, paragraph 1a (new)

1a.
A Member State shall notify the declaration referred to
in paragraph 1 to the Standing Committee on the Food Chain
and Animal Health in accordance with the following pro-
cedure:

(a)

the declaration shall be supported by evidence in a form
to be determined by the procedure referred to in Arti-
cle 62(2) and shall be accessible by electronic means to
the Commission and Member States in accordance with
the requirements of Article 59;

(b) the Commission shall add the notification of the declar-
ation to the agenda of the next meeting of the Standing
Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health as an
information point. The declaration shall take effect 30
days after the date of that meeting;

(c) within that period, the Commission or Member States
may seek clarification or additional information on the
supporting evidence from the Member State making the
declaration;

(d) where written comments are made by at

least one
indicating significant objective concerns
Member State,
related to the supporting evidence, the Commission and
Member States concerned shall together examine the sub-
mitted evidence in order to resolve the dispute. In that
event, the period referred to in point (b) may be prolonged
for 30 days;

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(e)

in the absence of any resolution of the dispute by the
means referred to in point (d), the Commission may
decide to carry out an on-the-spot inspection in accord-
ance with Article 58 in order to verify the compliance of
the declaration submitted with the criteria set out in
paragraph 1, unless the declaring Member State with-
draws its declaration;

(f) where necessary in the light of the results achieved, a
decision may be taken in accordance with the procedure
referred to in Article 62(2) to suspend the self-declaration
of the disease-free status of the zone or compartment con-
cerned.

Amendment 58

Article 56, paragraph -1 (new)

-1. Member States which do not have national reference
laboratories may, if they so wish, request financial support
from the EU to set up this type of infrastructure.

Amendment 59

Article 58, paragraph 3, subparagraph 1

3. Where a serious animal health risk is identified during a
Commission inspection,
the Member State concerned shall
immediately take all measures necessary to safeguard animal
health.

3. Where a serious animal health risk is identified during a
Commission inspection,
the Member State concerned shall
immediately take all measures necessary to safeguard animal
health and may request the economic compensation provided
for in the new European Fisheries Fund for that purpose.

Amendment 60

Article 59, paragraph 1

1. Member States shall, by 1 January 2007 at
the latest,
ensure that all procedures and formalities relating to making
the information provided for in Article 6, Article 51(1), and
Article 56(2) available by electronic means, are in place.

1. Member States shall, by 30 June 2007 at the latest, ensure
that all procedures and formalities relating to making the
information provided for
in Article 6, Article 50(1a), Arti-
cle 51(1) and Article 56(2) available by electronic means, are
in place.

Amendment 61

Article 61, paragraph 1

1.
Article 15(1) may be amended in accordance with the pro-
cedure referred to in Article 62(2), after consultation of the
appropriate scientific committee.

1.
Article 50(1a) may be amended in accordance with the
procedure referred to in Article 62(2), after consultation of the
appropriate scientific committee.

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AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 62
Article 65, paragraph 1, subparagraphs 1 and 2

1. Member States shall adopt and publish, by [30 June 2006]
at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions
necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith
communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions
and a correlation table between those provisions and this Direc-
tive

1. Member States shall adopt and publish, by [30 June 2007]
at the latest, the laws, regulations and administrative provisions
necessary to comply with this Directive. They shall forthwith
communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions
and a correlation table between those provisions and this Direc-
tive.

They shall apply those provisions from [1 January 2007].

They shall apply those provisions from [1 January 2008].

Amendment 63
Article 65a (new)

Article 65a

Assessment

The Commission shall ask the Member States to provide the
information necessary to draw up a report assessing the appli-
cation of this Directive, which report shall be submitted to the
Council and the European Parliament within two and a half
years of the entry into force of this Directive.

Amendment 65
Annex I, point (i)

(i)

‘Further processing’ means processing of aquaculture ani-
mals before human consumption by any type of measures
and techniques, affecting anatomical wholeness, such as
bleeding, gutting/evisceration, heading, slicing and fillet-
ing, which produces waste or by-products and could cause
a risk of spreading diseases.

deleted

Amendment 66

Annex I, point (ha) (new)

(ha)

‘Processing’ means any action that substantially alters
the initial product, including heating, smoking, curing,
maturing, drying, marinating, extraction, extrusion or a
combination of those processes.

Amendment 67
Annex I, point (hb) (new)

(hb)

‘Unprocessed products’ means foodstuffs that have not
undergone processing, and includes products that have
been divided, parted,
sliced, boned, minced,
severed,
skinned, ground, cut, cleaned, trimmed, husked, milled,
chilled, frozen, deep-frozen or thawed.

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AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 68

Annex I, point (hc) (new)

(hc)

‘Processed products’ means foodstuffs resulting from the
processing of unprocessed products. These products may
contain ingredients that are necessary for their manufac-
ture or to give them specific characteristics.

Amendment 69

Annex I, point (o)

(o)

‘Zone’ means a precise geographical area with a homogene-
ous hydrological system comprising part of a water catch-
ment area from the source(s) to a natural or artificial bar-
rier that prevents the upward migration of aquatic animals
from lower stretches of the water catchment area, an entire
water catchment area from its source(s) to its estuary, or
more than one water catchment area, including their estu-
aries, due to the epidemiological link between the catch-
ment areas through the estuary.

(o)

‘Zone’ means a precisely defined geographical area with a
homogeneous hydrological system comprising part of a
water catchment area from the source(s) to a natural or
artificial barrier that prevents the anadromous migration
of aquatic animals from lower stretches of the water catch-
ment area, an entire water catchment area from its source(s)
to its estuary, or more than one water catchment area,
including their estuaries, epizootiologically linked through
the estuary.

Amendment 71

Annex V, Part I, point 2, subpoint 1, introductory wording

A Member State where the last known clinical occurrence was
within the period of 25 years before the date of entry into force
of this Directive or where the infection status prior to targeted
surveillance was unknown, because of the absence of conditions
conducive to clinical expression, may be considered free from
the disease where:

A Member State where the last known clinical occurrence was
within 10 years before the date of the application for disease-
free status or where the infection status prior to targeted sur-
veillance was unknown, for example because of the absence of
conditions conducive to clinical expression, may be considered
free from the disease where:

Amendment 72

Annex V, Part II, point 2.3

A compartment where the last known clinical occur-
2.3.
rence was within a period of 25 years before the date of entry
into force of this Directive or where the infection status prior
to targeted surveillance was unknown, because of the absence of
conditions conducive to clinical expression, may be considered
free from the disease where it complies mutatis mutandis with
the requirements in Part I.2, and the disease is not known to
occur in the waters surrounding the compartment.

A compartment where the last known clinical occur-
2.3.
rence was within 10 years before the date of the application
for disease-free status or where the infection status in the com-
partment or in the waters surrounding the compartment prior
to targeted surveillance was unknown, for example because of
the absence of conditions conducive to clinical expression, may
be considered free from the disease where it complies mutatis
mutandis with the requirements in Part I.2.

Amendment 74

Annex V, Part II, point 3.2 (a)

(a) Through a water treatment plant capable of inactivating the
relevant pathogen; however, such water treatment is not
considered acceptable for use in a disease-free compartment
where the disease is known to occur in the water feeding
the treatment plant.

(a) Through a water treatment plant inactivating the relevant
pathogen in order to reduce the risk of disease introduction
to an acceptable level.

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AMENDMENTS
BY PARLIAMENT

Amendment 75
Annex V, Part II, point 3.6a (new)

3.6a.

Implementing measures concerning point 3.2 (a) shall
be laid down in accordance with the procedure referred to
in Article 62(2).

P6_TA(2006)0154

Switch-over from analogue to digital broadcasting

European Parliament resolution on the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting: an oppor-
tunity for European audiovisual policy and cultural diversity? (2005/2212(INI))

The European Parliament,

— having regard to its resolution of 16 November 2005 on accelerating the transition from analogue to

digital broadcasting (1),

— having regard to the Commission communication on accelerating the transition from analogue to digi-

tal broadcasting (COM(2005)0204),

— having regard to the conclusions of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council meeting

held in Brussels on 1-5 December 2005,

— having regard to Rule 45 of its Rules of Procedure,

— having regard to the report of the Committee on Culture and Education (A6-0075/2006),

A. whereas the global market developing in the communications media, a sector subject to constant tech-
nological change, involves new players, particularly in telecommunications, and increasingly important
multinational alliances,

B. whereas compliance with the principles of media pluralism and diversity of content will not be auto-
matically guaranteed by an increase in the number of television and radio channels, but must be
ensured by an active and consistent policy on the part of the public authorities,

C. whereas coverage of the whole territory in terms of broadcasting and equipment is essential in order to

ensure equal access for all,

D. whereas disparities exist between and within the Member States,

E. whereas the Commission considers that there is insufficient coordination between the Member States'
plans for digital switchover, as not all Member States have yet set a deadline for analogue switch-off;
whereas the transition from analogue to digital will be successful and fair for all suppliers if the anal-
ogue system is switched off throughout Europe on the same date,

F.

having regard to the Commission communication (COM(2006)0037) to the Council, the European
Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on
reviewing the interoperability of digital interactive television services pursuant to its earlier Communi-
cation on the same subject (COM(2004)0541),

(1) Texts Adopted, 16.11.2005, P6_TA(2005)0431.