Diagnostic Manuals

Detailed diagnostic methods and procedures for listed crustacean diseases.

Animal Health Law

The Animal Health Law, Regulation (EU) 2016/429, was fully implemented by 21st April 2021 repealing the former EU Commission Decision 2015/1554 on Surveillance and Diagnostic Methods and Council Directive 2006/88 that from 20th April 2021 were no longer in force.

Surveillance, eradication programmes, and disease-free status

The actual rules for surveillance, eradication programmes, and disease-free status for listed and emerging crustecean diseases is given in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689.

Categorization of listed diseases

The categorization of listed crustacean diseases is given in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882.

Diagnostic manuals for EU-listed crustacean diseases

Infection with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) falls into the category C diseases (+ D & E). These are listed diseases which are of relevance to some Member States and for which measures are needed to prevent them from spreading to parts of the Union that are officially disease-free or that have eradication programmes for the listed disease concerned.

According to regulation (EU) 2020/689 the samples collected for the infection with white spot syndrome virus shall be tested using one or more of the diagnostic methods in accordance with the detailed diagnostic methods and procedures approved by the EURL for fish and crustacean diseases. These detailed diagnostic procedures are given in the sampling and diagnostic manuals below.

Infection with yellow head virus is listed in Category A (+ D & E), which are diseases that do not normally occur in the Union and for which immediate eradication measures must be taken.

For the infection with yellow head virus a link is given to the WOAH Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals. This shall be followed until the approved EURL manual is uploaded on this website.

Infection with taura syndrome virus is listed in Category A (+ D & E), which are diseases that do not normally occur in the Union and for which immediate eradication measures must be taken. 

For the infection with taura syndrome virus a link is given to the WOAH Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals. This shall be followed until the approved EURL manual is uploaded on this website.