Aquatic animal health measures applicable during transit from the place of departure in the exporting country to the place of arrival in the importing country

Article 5.7.1.

1. Any country through which the transit of aquatic animals has to be made, and that normally conducts commercial transactions with the exporting country, should not refuse the transit, subject to the reservations mentioned herein and on condition that notification is made of the proposed transit to the Competent Authority in charge of the frontier posts.

   This notification shall state the species and quantities of aquatic animals, the methods of transport and the frontier posts of entry and exit in accordance with a previously arranged and authorised itinerary in the transit country.

2. Any country through which transit has to take place may refuse such transit if, in the exporting country or transit country that precedes it on the itinerary, certain diseases exist that have been specifically included in the international aquatic animal health certificates or in bilateral agreements. Alternatively, the Competent Authority of the transit country may impose conditions with regard to the method, including packaging, and route of transport.

3. Any transit country may require the presentation of international aquatic animal health certificates. Such a country may, in addition, cause an examination to be made by a member of the personnel of the Aquatic Animal Health Service on the health status of fish, molluscs or crustaceans in transit, except in cases where transport in sealed vehicles or containers is a condition of transit.

4. Any transit country may refuse passage through its territory of aquatic animals at one of its frontier posts if an examination carried out by a member of the personnel of the Aquatic Animal Health Service shows that the consignment of aquatic animals in transit is affected by or infected with any of the listed diseases and if these diseases are exotic to that country or the zone through which the transportation was to take place, or if there is an enforced control programme for the disease(s) in question, or if the international aquatic animal health certificate is inaccurate and/or unsigned or does not apply to fish, molluscs or crustaceans.

   In these circumstances, the Competent Authority of the exporting country shall be informed immediately, thereby providing an opportunity for checking the findings or correcting the certificate.

   If the diagnosis of any listed disease is confirmed or if the certificate cannot be corrected, the consignment of aquatic animals in transit shall either be returned to the exporting country if there is a common frontier with it, or be slaughtered or destroyed.

Article 5.7.2.

1. Any transit country may require vehicles used for the transit of aquatic animals through its territory to be constructed to prevent the escape and dispersion of waste water or other contaminated material.

2. Unloading of aquatic animals shall be permitted in the territory of the transit country only if an emergency situation arises. The importing country shall be informed of any unforeseen unloading in the transit country and the reason for it.

Article 5.7.3.

Vessels stopping in a port or passing through a canal or other navigable route situated in the territory of a country, on their way to a port situated in the territory of another country, must comply with the conditions required by the Competent Authority.

Article 5.7.4.

1. If, for reasons beyond the control of its captain, a ship or aircraft calls or lands somewhere other than at a port or airport, or at a port or airport other than that at which it should normally call or land, the captain of the ship or aircraft, or his/her deputy, shall immediately notify the nearest Competent Authority or any other public authority of the new port of call or landing.

2. As soon as the Competent Authority is notified of this calling or landing place, it shall take appropriate action.

3. The aquatic animals on board the ship or aircraft shall not be permitted to leave the vicinity of the docking or landing place and the removal from the vicinity of any equipment or packing material accompanying them shall not be permitted.

4. When the measures prescribed by the Competent Authority have been carried out, the ship or aircraft shall be permitted, for aquatic animal health purposes, to proceed to the port or airport at which it would normally have called or landed or, if there are technical reasons for which this cannot be done, to a port or an airport that is more suitable.