aquatic animal health code

320 Pages·2008·1.7 MB·English

WO RLD OR GAN ISATIO N F OR ANIMAL HEALTH
OrganisationMondialedelaSantéAnimaleWorldOrganisationforAnimalHealthOrganizaciónMundialdeSanidadAnimal
AQUATIC ANIMAL
HEALTH CODE
Eleventh Edition, 2008
FirstEdition,1995
Second Edition,1997
ThirdEdition,2000
FourthEdition,2001
FifthEdition,2002
SixthEdition,2003
SeventhEdition,2004
EighthEdition,2005
NinthEdition,2006
TenthEdition,2007
OIE AquaticAnimalHealth Code
EleventhEdition,2008
ISBN 978-92-9044-714-6
© Copyright
WORLD ORGANISATION FORANIMAL HEALTH2008
12,ruedeProny,75017Paris,FRANCE
Telephone:[phone]
Fax:[phone]
Electronicmail:[email protected]
WWW:http://www.oie.int
All World Organisationfor Animal Health (OIE) publications are protected by international copyright law.
Extracts may be copied, reproduced, translated, adapted or published in journals, documents, books,
electronic media and anyother medium destined for thepublic, for information, educational or commercial
purposes, provided prior written permission has been granted by the OIE. The designations and
denominations employed and thepresentationof thematerial inthis publicationdo notimply the expression
of any opinionwhatsoeveronthe partof theOIE concerning thelegalstatusof anycountry,territory,city or
area or of its authorities, or concerning thedelimitationof its frontiersand boundaries. The views expressed
in signed articles are solely the responsibility of the authors. The mentionof specific companies or products
of manufacturers, whetheror not thesehavebeen patented,does not implythatthese havebeenendorsed or
recommended bytheOIE inpreferenceto othersof asimilarnaturethatarenotmentioned.
C ONT ENT S
Foreword vii
Guideto theuseof theAquaticAnimalHealthCode ix
PART1 GENERALPROVISIONS
SECTION 1.1. GENERAL DEFINITIONS
Chapter1.1.1. Definitions 3
SECTION 1.2. NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS
Chapter1.2.1. Notificationof diseasesand epidemiologicalinformation 17
Chapter1.2.2. Criteriafor listing aquaticanimaldiseases 20
Chapter1.2.3. Diseaseslisted bytheOIE 23
SECTION 1.3. OBLIGATIONS AND ETHICS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Chapter1.3.1. Generalobligations 25
Chapter1.3.2. Certificationprocedures 28
SECTION 1.4. RISK ANALYSIS
Chapter1.4.1. Generalconsiderations 31
Chapter1.4.2. Guidelinesfor import riskanalysis 34
Chapter1.4.3. Evaluationof CompetentAuthorities 40
Chapter1.4.4. Zoning and compartmentalisation 42
SECTION 1.5. IMPORT/EXPORTPROCEDURES
Chapter1.5.1. Recommendationsfor safetransportof aquaticanimalsand aquatic 47
animalproducts
Chapter1.5.2. Aquaticanimalhealthmeasuresapplicablebefore and atdeparture 51
Chapter1.5.3. Aquaticanimalhealthmeasuresapplicableduring transitfrom the 53
placeof departureintheexporting countryto theplaceof arrivalin
theimporting country
Chapter1.5.4. Frontierpostsintheimporting country 55
Chapter1.5.5. Aquaticanimalhealthmeasuresapplicableonarrival 56
Chapter1.5.6. Measuresconcerning internationaltransportof aquaticanimaldisease 58
agentsand pathologicalmaterial
SECTION 1.6. CONTINGENCY PLANS
Chapter1.6.1. Guidelinesfor contingencyplanning 61
SECTION 1.7. FALLOWING
Chapter1.7.1. Guidelinesfor fallowing inaquaculture 65
PART2 RECOMMENDATIONS APPLICABLETOSPECIFICDISEASES
SECTION 2.1. DISEASES OF FISH
Chapter2.1.1. Epizootichaematopoieticnecrosis 69
Chapter2.1.2. Infectioushaematopoieticnecrosis 75
Chapter2.1.3. Oncorhynchusmasouvirusdisease(Salmonid herpesvirustype2disease) 81
Chapter2.1.4. Spring viraemiaof carp 84
Chapter2.1.5. Viralhaemorrhagicsepticaemia 90
Chapter2.1.6. Channelcatfishvirusdisease(Herpesvirusof Ictaluridae type1) 96
Chapter2.1.7. Viralencephalopathyand retinopathy 97
Chapter2.1.8. Infectiouspancreaticnecrosis 98
Chapter2.1.9. Infectioussalmonanaemia 99
Chapter2.1.10. Epizooticulcerativesyndrome 105
2008©OIEAquaticAnimalHealth Code iii
Contents
Chapter2.1.11. Bacterialkidneydisease(Renibacteriumsalmoninarum) 111
Chapter2.1.12. Entericsepticaemiaof catfish(Edwardsiellaictaluri) 112
Chapter2.1.13. Piscirickettsiosis(Piscirickettsia salmonis) 113
Chapter2.1.14. Gyrodactylosis(Gyrodactylussalaris) 114
Chapter2.1.15. Red seabream iridoviraldisease 121
Chapter2.1.16. Whitesturgeoniridoviraldisease 127
Chapter2.1.17. Koiherpesvirusdisease 128
SECTION 2.2. DISEASES OF MOLLUSCS
Chapter2.2.1. InfectionwithBonamia ostreae 135
Chapter2.2.2. InfectionwithBonamia exitiosa 141
Chapter2.2.3. InfectionwithHaplosporidium nelsoni 147
Chapter2.2.4. InfectionwithMarteiliarefringens 153
Chapter2.2.5. InfectionwithMikrocytos mackini 159
Chapter2.2.6. InfectionwithPerkinsusmarinus 165
Chapter2.2.7. InfectionwithPerkinsusolseni 170
Chapter2.2.8. InfectionwithXenohaliotiscaliforniensis 175
SECTION 2.3. DISEASES OF CRUSTACEANS
Chapter2.3.1. Taurasyndrome 181
Chapter2.3.2. Whitespotdisease 187
Chapter2.3.3. Yellowhead disease 192
Chapter2.3.4. Tetrahedralbaculovirosis 197
Chapter2.3.5. Sphericalbaculovirosis 203
Chapter2.3.6. Infectioushypodermaland haematopoieticnecrosis 208
Chapter2.3.7. Crayfishplague(Aphanomyces astaci) 213
Chapter2.3.8. Spawner-isolated mortalityvirusdisease 214
Chapter2.3.9. Infectiousmyonecrosis 215
Chapter2.3.10. Whitetaildisease 220
SECTION 2.4. DISEASES OF AMPHIBIANS
Chapter2.4.1. InfectionwithBatrachochytriumdendrobatidis 225
Chapter2.4.2. Infectionwithranavirus 231
PART3 APPENDICES
SECTION 3.1. BLOOD SAMPLING AND VACCINATION
Appendix 3.1.1. Hygienicprecautions 239
SECTION 3.2. INACTIVATION OF PATHOGENS
Appendix 3.2.1. Generalrecommendationsondisinfection 241
Appendix 3.2.2. Disinfectionof aquacultureestablishments 243
SECTION 3.3. AQUATICANIMAL HEALTH SURVEILLANCE
Appendix 3.3.1. Guidelinesfor aquaticanimalhealthsurveillance 245
SECTION 3.4. WELFARE OF FARMED FISH
Appendix 3.4.1. Introductionto guidelinesfor thewelfare of farmed fish 275
SECTION 3.5. AQUATICANIMAL FEED
Appendix 3.5.1. Guidelinesonthecontrolof aquaticanimalhealthhazardsinaquatic 277
animalfeed
PART4 MODEL INTERNATIONALAQUATICANIMALHEALTHCERTIFICATES
SECTION 4.1. INTERNATIONAL HEALTH CERTIFICATES
FOR LIVE AQUATICANIMALS
Appendix 4.1.1. Livefishand gametes 289
Appendix 4.1.2. Livemolluscsand gametes 293
iv 2008©OIEAquaticAnimalHealthCode
Contents
Appendix 4.1.3. Livecrustaceans 297
SECTION 4.2. INTERNATIONAL HEALTH CERTIFICATES
FOR DEAD AQUATICANIMALS
Appendix 4.2.1. Dead fish 301
Appendix 4.2.2. Dead crustaceans 305
2008©OIEAquaticAnimalHealth Code v

FOREWOR D
The aim of the Aquatic Animal Health Code (hereafter referred to as the ‘AquaticCode’) is to assure the sanitary
safety of international trade in aquatic animals (fish, molluscs, crustaceans and amphibians) and their products. This is
achieved through the detailing of health measures to be used by the Veterinary Administrations or other Competent
Authorities of importing and exporting countries to avoid the transfer of agents pathogenic for animals or humans, while
avoiding unjustified sanitary barriers.
The health measures in the AquaticCode(in the form of standards, guidelines and recommendations) have beenformally
adoptedby theOIE InternationalCommittee,the general assembly ofallDelegatesof OIEMembers, whichconstitutes the
organisation’s highest decision-making body. This 11th edition incorporates the modifications to the Aquatic Code
agreed by the OIE International Committeeduring the76th General Session in May 2008. Theseincluderevisedchapters
on the following subjects: definitions, diseases listed by the OIE, obligations and ethics in international trade, import risk
analysis, recommendations for safe transport of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products, infectious myonecrosis, white
tail disease, infection with Mikrocytosmackini andgyrodactylosis (Gyrodactylussalaris).As well, two new chapters on
infection with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and infection with ranavirus and three new appendices on welfare of
farmed fish, control of aquatic animal health hazards in aquatic animal feed and aquatic animal health surveillance were
adoptedandhave been added tothis edition of the AquaticCode.
The development of these standards, guidelines and recommendations is the result of the continuous work of one of the
OIE’s Specialist Commissions, the OIE Aquatic Animal Health Standards Commission (hereafter referred to as the
‘Aquatic Animals Commission’). ThisCommission, which comprises five elected members and twoobserversexperienced in
the fields of methods for surveillance, diagnosis, control and prevention of infectious aquatic animal diseases, meets twice
yearly to address its work programme. The Commission also draws upon the expertise of internationally renowned
specialists to prepare draft texts for new chapters of the AquaticCode or revise existing chapters in light of advances in
veterinary science. The views of the Delegates of Members are systematically sought through the circulation of draft and
revised texts. As well, the Aquatic Animals Commission collaborates closely with the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health
Standards Commission on issues needing a harmonised approach, and with the Biological Standards Commission and the
Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases to ensure the Aquatic Animals Commission is using the latest scientific
informationinitswork.
The value of the Aquatic Code lies in the fact that measures published in it are the result of consensus among the
Competent Authorities of OIE Members.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS
Agreement) conferred on the OIE new responsibilities under international law by specifying ‘the standards, guidelines and
recommendations developed under the auspices of the OIE’ as the international standards for animal health and zoonoses.
The SPS Agreement is aimed at establishing a multilateral framework of rules and disciplines to guide the development,
adoption and enforcement of sanitary measures in order to minimisetheir negative effects oninternational trade.Essentially,
two options are available to Members to provide a scientific justification for an import health measure. The first, and most
encouraged by the WTO, is for Competent Authorities to base their import health measures on the OIE’s international
standards, guidelines and recommendations. Where these do not exist, or in cases where a government chooses to apply
stricter measures, the importing country must be able to show that its measure is based on a scientific assessment of the
potential health risks. Guidelines for conducting risk analyses are described in the Aquatic Code. The Aquatic Code
thusformsan integralpart oftheregulatory referencesystem establishedby the WTO.
The Aquatic Code is published annually in the three official OIE languages (English, French and Spanish). The
contents ofthe AquaticCodeareavailableon the OIEWebsiteat http://www.oie.int.
TheUsers’ Guide, whichfollows the foreword,isdesigned to help Competent Authorities and other interested parties to use
the various chapters of the Aquatic Code efficiently and effectively, and to promote equitable access by all developing and
developed countriestotheworld market in animals and animal products,according to their animalhealthstatus.
2008©OIEAquaticAnimalHealth Code vii
Foreword
We wish to thank former and present Members of the Aquatic Animals Commission, who have contributed to producing
this book and itscompanionvolume, the Manualof DiagnosticTestsfor AquaticAnimals, for their hard work. Dr
P. de Kinkelinisthanked for his initiating role, asit wasunder hischairmanship of the Commission that work on the two
books wasbegun. Special thanks are also expressed to those scientificexperts in different Memberswho providedcomments
and information, and finally the staff of the OIE Headquarters for their dedication in producing this 11th edition of the
AquaticCode.

DrB.Vallat Dr Eva-MariaBernoth
Director General President
WorldOrganisation for Animal Health Aquatic Animals Commission
MembersoftheOIEAquaticAnimalsCommission, 2003-2008:
President:Dr Eva-Maria Bernoth
Vice-President:Prof. Barry Hill
Secretary General:Dr RicardoEnriquez
Members: Dr Franck BertheandProf. Eli Katunguka-Rwakishaya
June2008
viii 2008©OIEAquaticAnimalHealthCode
GUIDE T O T HE USE OF THE A QUA TIC ANIMA L HEALTH CODE
A. Introduction
1. The purpose of this guide is to assist the Veterinary Administrations and/or other Competent Authorities of
OIE Members to use the Aquatic Animal Health Code (hereafter referred to as the ‘Aquatic Code’) in
developing their animal health measures applicable to imports and exports of aquatic animals and aquatic
animal products.
2. The recommendationsineach of the chapters in Part 2 of the AquaticCodeare designedtoprevent the disease
in questionbeing introducedinto the importing country,taking into account thenatureofthe commodity and the
aquatic animal health status of the exporting country. This means that, correctly applied, the recommendations
ensure that the intended importation can take place with an optimal level of animal health security,
incorporating the latest scientificfindings and available techniques.
3. The recommendations in the AquaticCode make referenceonly to the animal health situation in the exporting
country, and assume that the disease is either not present in the importing country or is the subject of a control
or eradication programme. Therefore, when determining its import measures, an importing country should do so
in a way that is consistent with the principle of national treatment and the other provisions of the WTO SPS
Agreement. An importing country is always free to authorise the importation of animalsor animal productsinto
its territory under conditions either more or less stringent than those recommended by the Aquatic Code, but
this must be based on a scientific risk analysis and done in accordance with the country's obligations under the
SPS Agreement.
4. To avoid confusion, key terms and expressions used in the Aquatic Codeare definedin Chapter 1.1.1.When
preparing model international aquatic animal health certificates, the importing country should endeavour to use
thesetermsandexpressionsinaccordancewiththedefinitions givenintheAquaticCode.
5. At the head of each chapter relating to a specific disease (in Part 2 of the Aquatic Code), there is an article
clearly describing the scope ofeach chapter.
6. In many of the Aquatic Code chapters, the use of diagnostic tests is recommended. In each case, a reference in
the first article of the chapter is made to the relevant section in the OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests for
AquaticAnimals(hereafter referredtoasthe‘AquaticManual’).
7. Section 1.3. of the Aquatic Code deals with obligations and ethics in international trade. Veterinary
Administrations and/or other Competent Authorities should have a sufficient number of copies of the Aquatic
Code to allow all veterinarians directly involved in such trade to familiarise themselves with the contents. In
addition, diagnostic laboratories should be fully conversant with the technical recommendations in the Aquatic
Manual.
8. When, in some parts of this Aquatic Code, the term ‘under study’ is applied to an Article or part of an
Article,themeaning is that thetext has not beenadopted by the OIE International Committeeandisnot part
of the AquaticCode.Accordingly, that recommendationneeds not be applied by Members.
9. The complete text of the Aquatic Code has been made available on the OIE Web site (address:
http://www.oie.int)to ensure wider access.
B. Disease Information, the Bulletin and World AnimalHealth
These three OIE publications inform Veterinary Administrations and/or other Competent Authorities on the
animal health situationworld-wide. Importing countriescan thus have an overview of theanimalhealthstatus, disease
occurrence and control programmes in exporting countries. If it considers the data available at the international level
to be insufficient, the importing country shouldcontact the exporting country directly,or through OIE Headquarters,
toobtainadditionalinformation.
2008©OIEAquaticAnimalHealth Code ix
Guideto theuseoftheAquaticAnimalHealthCode
C. International Health Certificates
1. An international aquatic animal health certificate is a document, drawn up by the exporting country in
accordance with the terms of Chapter 1.3.1. and Chapter 1.3.2. of the AquaticCode, describing the aquatic
animal health requirements for the exported commodity. The assurance given to the importing country that
diseases will not be introduced through the importation of aquatic animals or aquatic animal products depends
on the quality of the exporting country’s aquatic animal health infrastructure and the rigour with which
international aquatic animal healthcertificates are issued in the exporting country.
2. International veterinary certificates are intended to facilitate safe trade and should not be used to impede it by
imposing unjustified health conditions. In all cases, the exporting country and the importing country should refer
to the health conditions recommended in the AquaticCode before agreeing on the terms of the certificate. They
should alsorespect their rights and obligations under the SPS Agreement.
3. The steps tobefollowed when drafting international aquaticanimal health certificatesareasfollows:
a) list the diseases against which the importing country isjustifiedin seeking protection;
b) list the health requirements for each of these diseases, which can be determined by referring to the relevant
articles in theAquatic Code; the AquaticCode provides for various levels of sanitary status in thecase
of many diseases: diseasefreecountry, zone,compartment or aquaculture establishment;
c) usethe model international aquatic animal health certificates presented in Part 4 of theAquatic Codeas
a general framework, adapting the contents and form of the paragraphs as required, for example by
devoting more space todetailsoftheoriginof theconsignment.
4. As stated in Article 1.3.2.2. of the Aquatic Code, it is important that international aquatic animal health
certificates be kept as simple as possible and be clearly worded, so as to avoid any misunderstanding of the
requirements of importing countries.The same article gives advice on how to draft certificates so as to ensure the
validity oftheir contentsandprevent forgery.
D. Notes of Guidance for Importers and Exporters
In order to avoid any misunderstanding of the requirements, it is often advisable to prepare notes of guidance to assist
importers and exporters. The notes should set out all the conditions concerning importation measures to be applied
before and after importation, aswell as during transport and unloading, legal obligationsand operational procedures.
The attention of exporters should also be drawn to the relevant International Air Transport Association (IATA)
rulesfor thecarriage ofaquatic animals and aquatic animal productsby air.
The notes of guidance should alsoset out in detailthe health certification requirements to be included in the documents
accompanying the consignment to itsdestination.
x 2008©OIEAquaticAnimalHealthCode