EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 02/10/COL of 5 January 2010 concerning the status of Norway with regard to infectious haematopoietic necrosis and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia and repealing the EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 302/08/COL of 21 May 2008
Date: 2010-01-05
Institutions: EFTA Surveillance Authority
Subjects: Norway, animal disease, aquaculture, fish disease, fishing area, health control








L_2010157EN.01001601.xml










24.6.2010   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


L 157/16







EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY DECISION
         
No 02/10/COL
of 5 January 2010
         
concerning the status of Norway with regard to infectious haematopoietic necrosis and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia and repealing the EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 302/08/COL of 21 May 2008
         


THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY,

HAVING REGARD to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, 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 4.1.5a of Chapter I of Annex I to the EEA Agreement,
Council Directive 2006/88/EC of 24 October 2006 on animal health requirements for aquaculture animals and products thereof, and on the prevention and control of certain diseases in aquatic animals (1),
as adapted by way of Protocol 1 to the EEA Agreement, in particular Article 50 of that Act,

Whereas:

By letter dated 3 May 1994 Norway submitted the appropriate justifications for granting, as far as infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN) and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) are concerned, the status of approved zone to its territory, as well as the national rules ensuring compliance with the conditions to be respected for maintenance of the approved status.


By Decision of the Authority No 71/94/COL Norway was recognised as approved continental and coastal zone for fish with regard to IHN and VHS. Following notification of an outbreak of VHS in Møre og Romsdal County in Norway, on 26 November 2007, Decision No 71/94/COL, as last amended by the EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 244/02/COL, was repealed by Decision No 302/08/COL, which established that the parts of Norway referred to in the Annex to that Decision were recognised as approved continental zone and as approved coastal zone for fish with regard to IHN and VHS.


On 11 July 2008, an outbreak of VHS was confirmed in the coastal areas of Storfjorden in Norway. The competent authority in Norway has informed the Authority of the measures taken to eliminate the disease and to prevent its spread.


The Authority has assessed the information submitted to it by the competent authority in Norway and it appears, at this stage, that the measures taken are appropriate. Moreover, the Authority has discussed the matter with the European Commission and no changes have occurred in Norway with regards to IHN.


It is the opinion of the Authority that Norway, with the exception of the areas referred to in the Annex, should still be recognised as approved continental zone and approved coastal zone for fish with regard to IHN and VHS.


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

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:



Article 1
Norway, with the exception of the areas referred to in the Annex, is recognised as approved continental zone and as approved coastal zone for fish with regard to IHN and VHS.


Article 2
The EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 302/08/COL of 21 May 2008 concerning the status of Norway with regard to infectious haematopoietic necrosis and viral haemorrhagic septicaemia is hereby repealed.


Article 3
This Decision shall enter into force on 5 January 2010.


Article 4
This Decision is addressed to the Kingdom of Norway.


Article 5
Only the English version is authentic.




Done at Brussels, 5 January 2010.


For the EFTA Surveillance Authority

Kurt JÄGER
            

College Member

Xavier LEWIS
            

Director






(1)  
            OJ L 328, 24.11.2006, p. 14.




ANNEX
IHN
Norway, with the exception of the Norwegian part of the catchment areas of Grense Jacobselv and Pasvik river and the rivers in between and the associated coastal region.
VHS
Norway, with the exception of:






1.


The Norwegian part of the catchment areas of Grense Jacobselv and Pasvik river and the rivers in between and the associated coastal region.










2.


Norway, with the exception of the coastal areas of Storfjorden (in the municipalities of Ørskog, Sykkylven, Stordal, Stranda and Norddal) delimited in the west by a line drawn between Røneset in Sykkylven municipality and Giljeneset in Ørskog municipality. East of the line of the entire fjord is excepted including the tidal line, landbased aquaculture farms that utilise seawater in the production and the landbases and quays of aquaculture farms in the fjord. The parts of water catchment areas that have its estuary in the containment area and that have upward migration of anadromous fish, and any cultivation installation in the anadromous part of the water catchment are also excepted from recognition as approved zone.