Animal health and the trade in aquatic animals within and to the European Union

The creation of a single European market has significantly extended the scope of veterinary animal and public health legislation. This extension includes aquatic animals, and a comprehensive set of directives and decisions has been developed to ensure free circulation of aquaculture animals and their products, while guaranteeing a high level of animal health. At the same time, and in the same context, other directives have been adopted which organise checks on animals and products within and to the European Union (EU), as well as accompanying financial measures. Animal health legislation for the movement of aquaculture animals is also based on a number of principles, including the following: - the definition of important pathogens and their hosts zoning (regionalisation) - the obligation for EU Member States to move animals only from areas or farms with high health status to and between areas and farms with equal or lower health status - the prescription of a testing regime to improve animal health status in zones or farms. In addition disease control prescriptions have been established or are being considered for adoption. These include the establishment of national and EU reference laboratories, as well as the application of contingency plans and the measures to be taken in the event of a disease outbreak.