Detailed diagnostic methods and procedures for listed fish 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Decision 2015/1554 on Surveillance and Diagnostic Methods and Council Directive 2006/88 that from 20th April 2021 were no longer in force.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 diseases is given in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/689.
Categorization of listed diseases
The categorization of listed diseases is given in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/1882.
Viral haemorragic septicaemia (VHS)
Infectious haematopoietic necrosis (IHN)
Infection with HPR-deleted infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV)
Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS), infectious hematopoietic necrosis (IHN) and infection with HPR-deleted infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV) fall into the category C diseases (+ D & E).
These are diseases of relevance for the member states who must actively prevent their spread 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 VHS, IHN and ISAV 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 Diseases. These detailed diagnostic procedures are given in the respective sampling and diagnostic manuals linked under each of the listed diseases. Please find link to VHS, IHN and ISAV in the menu.
Koi herpes virus disease (KHV)
Koi herpes virus disease falls into Category E which means that there is no specific requirement for surveillance in the Union. However, individual Member states can implement surveillance programs and control measures.
For koi herpes virus disease, a link is given to the chapter on infection with KHV in the WOAH Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals. This shall be followed until the approved EURL Manual is uploaded on this website. Please find link to KHV in the menu.
Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis (EHN)
Epizootic haematopoietic necrosis (EHN) falls into Category A (+ D & E). As the disease is considered exotic in the European Union, immediate eradication measures must be taken.
For the category A disease, infection with epizootic haematopoietic necrosis virus (EHNV) a diagnostic manual for the diagnostic procedures in EU is available and procedures shall be followed in case of suspicion of EHN. For further reading a link is given to the chapter on infection with EHNV in the WOAH Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals. Please find link to EHN in the menu.