Courtesy of NAA:

The US Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS), Veterinary Services (VS) has become aware of disease testing inconsistences related to live aquatic animal exports from the United States to the European Union (EU). This notice provides clarification on the EU disease testing requirements for all live aquatic animal exports.

The EU requires aquatic animal species listed in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882 to originate from  a country, territory, zone or compartment which has been declared free from the relevant listed diseases outlined in the aquatic animal export health certificate. The EU communicated to APHIS that testing only the cohort to be exported (i.e., test and ship) does not meet EU disease testing requirements.

Therefore, effective immediately, facilities exporting species susceptible to diseases listed in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882, must achieve and maintain premises freedom status for each disease of concern prior to export. Please note for crustacean exports to the EU, premises freedom status is required for all diseases of concern, regardless of the intended use; this includes crustaceans exported as ornamental species.

We encourage all facility owners, operators, and accredited veterinarians to review the document entitled “Criteria for Establishing Premises Freedom for Pathogens of Concern in Aquaculture Settings”. This document outlines the steps and sampling requirements to establish and maintain premises freedom for a given disease of concern. Prior to future exports to the EU, facility owners must submit their sampling data to APHIS for review. Once APHIS confirms the facility meets premises freedom, exports to the EU may resume.

Please note, this clarification does not apply to the export market for live bivalve mollusks intended for human consumption, which does not require testing prior to export from the United States to the EU.

APHIS is committed to working with all facilities affected as we understand the significant impact this updated guidance may have on current and future exports to the EU. For any questions and to submit your facility’s sampling data for review, please email vsaquaculturehealth@usda.gov.