OFI is the
international trade association for the ornamental aquatic industry and
together with the European Pet Organization, represents the ornamental aquatic
industry in its contacts with the European Commission.
Modifications
to the new EU Regulation on import requirements for ornamental fish crustaceans
and mollusks, now in the draft stage, may have devastating effects on the
import trade if implemented in its present form. The new Regulation introduces
the term “vector species” into European legislation. Vector species are species
which can carry the disease without being infected itself.
In addition
to a list of species susceptible to EUS (Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome), SVC
(Spring Viraemia of Carp) and KHV (Koi Herpes Virus), another list of species
which are non-symptomatic vectors is currently being prepared by the European
Commission.
If the law
takes effect in its present form, it will have several effects on EUS-susceptible or vector
species:
- Susceptible
captive bred species are only allowed into the EU from EUS-free countries,
areas, or farms.
- Wild-caught
susceptible fishes are allowed in from non-EUS free countries, areas, or farms only
if they are quarantined. Quarantine details have to be worked out.
- Vector
species (wild and captive-bred) may be imported from non-EUS free countries,
but in this case they have to be kept in quarantine first.
It is not
yet clear yet whether the quarantine must be implemented in the importing or
the exporting country.
A huge
number of fish species from all kinds of genera will be affected.
The same
additions have been made for KHV (for which the vector species include goldfish,
sturgeon and others) and for SVC. The only difference with EUS is that these
two are not exotic diseases for the EU and the limitation in trade only applies
to countries with an eradication program (For KHV: no countries. For SVC: Denmark, Finland,
Ireland, the UK and Sweden).
Due to the
complexity of the material, the draft health certificates have become
incomprehensible and unworkable for the trade. Additionally, fish disease
specialists have stated that EUS has not been encountered in fish farms and is
only found in free ranging fish.
If
implemented with these additions, the new EU regulation will be disastrous for
the international trade in ornamental fish.
OFI is staying
on top of this situation, and are doing everything in their power to reverse
the latest modifications.
