EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY DECISION

No 264/12/COL

of 5 July 2012

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 (1)

2012/C 340/02

THE EFTA SURVEILLANCE AUTHORITY,

Having regard to the Act referred to at point 8a of Part 3.1 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 (2), as corrected and amended,

Having regard to the Act referred to at point 89 of Part 4.2 of Chapter I of Annex I to the EEA Agreement,

Commission Decision 2009/177/EC of 31 October 2008 implementing Council Directive 2006/88/EC as regards surveillance and eradication programmes and disease-free status of Member States, zones and compartments (3), as amended,

Having regard to College Decision No 259/12/COL empowering the competent College Member to adopt this Decision,

Whereas:

By letter dated 3 May 1994, Norway submitted to the EFTA Surveillance Authority (‘the Authority’) 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.

The Authority’s Decision No 71/94/COL of 27 June 1994, as last amended by Decision No 244/02/COL of 11 December 2002, 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 26 November 2007, an outbreak of VHS was confirmed in Møre og Romsdal county in Norway. The competent authority in Norway informed the Authority of the measures taken to eliminate the disease and to prevent its spread. These measures were considered appropriate by the Authority.

The Authority decided by Decision No 302/08/COL that Norway, with the exception of the areas referred to in the Annex to that Decision, should still be recognised as approved continental zone and approved coastal zone for fish with regard to IHN and VHS.

On 8 May 2012, Norway submitted to the Authority a declaration of VHS-free status, and supporting documentation on surveillance and sampling, with regard to its whole territory, 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.

The Authority has, in close cooperation with the European Commission, examined the declaration and the attached documentation and considers that the declaration complies with the requirements for a declaration of disease-free status in Directive 2006/88/EC and Decision 2009/177/EC.

The Authority, by its Decision No 259/12/COL, referred the matter to the EFTA Veterinary Committee assisting the EFTA Surveillance Authority. The Committee approved unanimously the proposal put forward by the Authority. Consequently, the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the unanimous opinion of the EFTA Veterinary Committee assisting the EFTA Surveillance Authority and the final text of the measures remains unchanged.

Accordingly, 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, should be declared free of VHS.

No changes have occurred in Norway with regards to IHN. The status of Norway for this disease should be maintained.

It is appropriate that the Authority’s Decision No 302/08/COL be repealed and replaced by the present Decision,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

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 is declared free of IHN.

Article 2

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 is declared free of VHS.

Article 3

The EFTA Surveillance Authority Decision No 302/08/COL of 21 May 2008 is hereby repealed.

Article 4

This Decision shall enter into force on 5 July 2012.

Article 5

This Decision is addressed to Norway.

Article 6

This Decision shall be authentic in the English language.

(1)  OJ L 41, 12.2.2009, p. 32 and EEA Supplement No 7, 12.2.2009, p. 10.

(2)  OJ L 328, 24.11.2006, p. 14 and EEA Supplement No 32, 17.6.2010, p. 1 in Icelandic and No 35, 23.6.2011, p. 44 in Norwegian.

(3)  OJ L 63, 7.3.2009, p. 15.