Species and groups posing a risk of spread of aquatic animal diseases

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/216 of 11 January 2024 amending the Annex to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 concerning listed diseases of aquatic animals and the list of species and groups of species posing a considerable risk for the spread of those listed diseases

Update

The European Commission has updated the list of vectors of aquatic diseases, and has revised the list of aquatic species susceptible to infection with Marteilia refringens.

Impacted Products

food-producing aquatic animals

What is changing?

The EU has updated the list of vectors of aquatic diseases, listing only those vectors with a demonstrated ability to transmit these diseases to susceptible species (Table 1).

The EU has also included dwarf oysters, European flat oysters, European razor clams, golden mussels, and striped venus clams in the list of aquatic molluscs susceptible to infection with the protozoan parasite Marteilia refringens (Table 2).

Why?

Regulation 2016/429 requires that the list of vectors of aquatic diseases (set out in the Annex to Regulation 2018/1882) comprises those animal species or groups that pose a considerable risk for the spread of specific listed diseases.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) defines vector species as those species that clearly present such a risk because they have been demonstrated to transmit the causative agent of the disease to susceptible species. Species that EFSA could not demonstrate were vectors have been deleted from the list (EFSA 2023a, 2023b, 2023c). The changes are detailed in Table 1.

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) has revised its list of species susceptible to infection with Marteilia refringens (Aquatic Animal Health Code, Article 11.4.2). This new EU Regulation seeks convergence with the WOAH standards.

Timeline

The new Regulation applies from 1 February 2024.

What are the major implications for exporting countries?

Risk of transmission of these diseases primarily applies during or after transport of live vectors or susceptible species that may have been exposed to these pathogens. M. refringens can only be transmitted by copepods as intermediate hosts (EFSA 2023b).

Recommended Actions

Fishery operators and exporters to the EU of any vector or species susceptible to aquatic diseases listed in the Annex to Regulation 2024/216 should consider treatment or processing in accordance with good manufacturing practices prior to export, and ensure handling of the products does not jeopardise their safety.

Background

Regulation (EU) 2016/429 lays down rules for the prevention and control of diseases that are transmissible to animals or humans, including rules for prioritising and categorising listed diseases.

Species and groups of species that are susceptible to aquatic diseases and can transmit such diseases are listed in the Annex to Implementing Regulation 2018/1882. The EU frequently reviews this list to ensure that it reflects the latest scientific knowledge, seeking convergence with WOAH standards.

Resources

Sources

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Regulation

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/216 concerning listed diseases of aquatic animals and the list of species and groups of species posing a considerable risk for the spread of those listed diseases

What is changing and why?

The EU has updated its list of vectors of aquatic diseases, listing only those vectors with a demonstrated ability to transmit these diseases to susceptible species according to the European Food Safety Authority. The list in the Annex to Regulation 2018/1882 will be updated accordingly (Table 1).

The EU has also included dwarf oysters, European flat oysters, European razor clams, golden mussels, and striped venus clams in the list of aquatic molluscs susceptible to infection with the protozoan parasite Marteilia refringens (Table 2).

Actions

Fishery operators and exporters to the EU of any vector or species susceptible to aquatic diseases listed in the Annex to Regulation 2024/216 should consider treatment or processing in accordance with good manufacturing practices prior to export, and ensure handling of the products does not jeopardise their safety.

Timeline

The new Regulation applies from 1 February 2024.

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