Red sea bream iridoviral disease

Article 10.8.1.

For the purposes of the Aquatic Code, red sea bream iridoviral disease (RSIVD) means infection with red sea bream iridovirus (RSIV) of the family Iridoviridae.

Information on methods for diagnosis are provided in the Aquatic Manual.

Article 10.8.2.

Scope

The recommendations in this chapter apply to: red sea bream (Pagrus major), yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata), amberjack (Seriola dumerili), sea bass (Lateolabrax sp. and Latescalcarifer), Albacore (Thunnus thynnus), Japanese parrotfish (Oplegnathus fasciatus), striped jack (Caranx delicatissimus), mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi), red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), mullet (Mugil cephalus) and groupers (Epinephelus spp.). These recommendations also apply to any other susceptible species referred to in the Aquatic Manual when traded internationally.

Article 10.8.3.

Importation or transit of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products for any purpose from a country, zone or compartment not declared free from red sea bream iridovirus

1. Competent Authorities should not require any conditions related to RSIVD, regardless of the RSIVD status of the exporting country, zone or compartment, when authorising the importation or transit of the following aquatic animal products from the species referred to in Article 10.8.2. which are intended for any purpose and which comply with Article 5.4.1.:

   1. heat sterilised hermetically sealed fish products (i.e. a heat treatment at 121ºC for at least 3.6 minutes or any time/temperature equivalent);

   2. pasteurised fish products that have been subjected to heat treatment at 90ºC for at least ten minutes (or any time/temperature equivalent which has been demonstrated to inactivate RSIV);

   3. mechanically dried eviscerated fish (i.e. a heat treatment at 100ºC for at least 30 minutes (or any time/temperature equivalent which has been demonstrated to inactivate RSIV);

   4. fish oil;

   5. fish meal;

   6. fish skin leather.

2. When authorising the importation or transit of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products of a species referred to in Article 10.8.2., other than those referred to in point 1 of Article 10.8.3., Competent Authorities should require the conditions prescribed in Articles 10.8.7. to 10.8.11. relevant to the RSIVD status of the exporting country, zone or compartment.

3. When considering the importation or transit of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products of a species not covered in Article 10.8.2. but which could reasonably be expected to pose a risk of spread of RSIVD, the Competent Authority should conduct a risk analysis in accordance with the recommendations in Chapter 2.1. The Competent Authority of theexporting country should be informed of the outcome of this assessment.

Article 10.8.4.

Red sea bream iridovirus free country

If a country shares a zone with one or more other countries, it can only make a self-declaration of freedom from RSIVD if all the areas covered by the shared water bodies are declared countries or zones free from RSIVD (see Article 10.8.5.).

As described in Article 1.4.6., a country may make a self-declaration of freedom from RSIVD if:

1. none of the susceptible species referred to in Article 10.8.2. are present and basic biosecurity conditions have been continuously met for at least the last two years;

OR

2. any of the susceptible species referred to in Article 10.8.2. are present and the following conditions have been met:

   1. there has been no observed occurrence of the disease for at least the last ten years despite conditions that are conducive to its clinical expression (as described in the corresponding chapter of the Aquatic Manual), and

   2. basic biosecurity conditions have been continuously met for at least the last ten years;

OR

3. the disease status prior to targeted surveillance is unknown but the following conditions have been met:

   1. basic biosecurity conditions have been continuously met for at least the last two years; and

   2. targeted surveillance, as described in Chapter 1.4., has been in place for at least the last two years without detection of RSIVD;

OR

4. it previously made a self-declaration of freedom from RSIVD and subsequently lost its disease free status due to the detection of RSIVD but the following conditions have been met:

   1. on detection of the disease, the affected area was declared an infected zone and a protection zone was established; and

   2. infected populations have been destroyed or removed from the infected zone by means that minimise the risk of further spread of the disease, and the appropriate disinfection procedures (as described in the Aquatic Manual) have been completed; and

   3. previously existing basic biosecurity conditions have been reviewed and modified as necessary and have continuously been in place since eradication of the disease; and

   4. targeted surveillance, as described in Chapter 1.4., has been in place for at least the last two years without detection of RSIVD.

   In the meantime, part or all of the non-affected area may be declared a free zone provided that such a part meets the conditions in point 3 of Article 10.8.5.

Article 10.8.5.

Red sea bream iridovirus free zone or free compartment

If a zone or compartment extends over more than one country, it can only be declared a RSIVD free zone or compartment if all the relevant Competent Authorities confirm that all relevant conditions have been met.

As described in Article 1.4.6., a zone or compartment within the territory of one or more countries not declared free from RSIVD may be declared free by the Competent Authority(ies) of the country(ies) concerned if:

1. none of the susceptible species referred to in Article 10.8.2. are present in the zone or compartment and basic biosecurity conditions have been met continuously for at least the last two years;

OR

2. any of the susceptible species referred to in Article 10.8.2. are present in the zone or compartment and the following conditions have been met:

   1. there has been no observed occurrence of the disease for at least the last ten years despite conditions that are conducive to its clinical expression (as described in the corresponding chapter of the Aquatic Manual); and

   2. basic biosecurity conditions have been continuously met for at least the last ten years;

OR

3. the disease status prior to targeted surveillance is unknown but the following conditions have been met:

   1. basic biosecurity conditions have been continuously met for at least the last two years; and

   2. targeted surveillance, as described in Chapter 1.4., has been in place, in the zone or compartment, for at least the last two years without detection of RSIVD;

OR

4. it previously made a self-declaration of freedom for a zone from RSIVD and subsequently lost its disease free status due to the detection of RSIVD in the zone but the following conditions have been met:

   1. on detection of the disease, the affected area was declared an infected zone and a protection zone was established; and

   2. infected populations have been destroyed or removed from the infected zone by means that minimise the risk of further spread of the disease, and the appropriate disinfection procedures (as described in the Aquatic Manual) have been completed; and

   3. previously existing basic biosecurity conditions have been reviewed and modified as necessary and have continuously been in place since eradication of the disease; and

   4. targeted surveillance, as described in Chapter 1.4., has been in place for at least the last two years without detection of RSIVD.

Article 10.8.6.

Maintenance of free status

A country, zone or compartment that is declared free from RSIVD following the provisions of points 1 or 2 of Articles 10.8.4. or 10.8.5. (as relevant) may maintain its status as free from RSIVD provided that basic biosecurity conditions are continuously maintained.

A country, zone or compartment that is declared free from RSIVD following the provisions of point 3 of Articles 10.8.4. or 10.8.5. (as relevant) may discontinue targeted surveillance and maintain its status as free from RSIVD provided that conditions that are conducive to clinical expression of RSIVD, as described in the corresponding chapter of the Aquatic Manual, exist and basic biosecurity conditions are continuously maintained.

However, for declared free zones or compartments in infected countries and in all cases where conditions are not conducive to clinical expression of RSIVD, targeted surveillance needs to be continued at a level determined by the Aquatic Animal Health Service on the basis of the likelihood of infection.

Article 10.8.7.

Importation of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products from a country, zone or compartment declared free from red sea bream iridovirus

When importing aquatic animals and aquatic animal products of species referred to in Article 10.8.2. from a country, zone or compartment declared free from RSIVD, the Competent Authority of the importing country should require that the consignment be accompanied by an international aquatic animal health certificate issued by the Competent Authority of the exporting country or a certifying official approved by the importing country certifying that, on the basis of the procedures described in Articles 10.8.4. or 10.8.5. (as applicable) and 10.8.6., the place of production of the aquatic animals and aquatic animal products is a country, zone or compartment declared free from RSIVD.

The certificate should be in accordance with the Model Certificate in Chapter 5.11.

This Article does not apply to commodities referred to in point 1 of Article 10.8.3.

Article 10.8.8.

Importation of live aquatic animals for aquaculture from a country, zone or compartment not declared free from red sea bream iridovirus

1. When importing, for aquaculture, live aquatic animals of species referred to in Article 10.8.2. from a country, zone or compartment not declared free from RSIVD, the Competent Authority of the importing country should assess the risk and, if justified, apply the following risk mitigation measures:

   1. the direct delivery to and lifelong holding of the consignment in biosecure facilities for continuous isolation from the local environment; and

   2. the treatment of water used in transport and of all effluent and waste materials in a manner that ensures inactivation of RSIV.

2. If the intention of the introduction is the establishment of a new stock, relevant aspects of the Code of Practice on the Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) should be considered.

3. For the purposes of the Aquatic Code, relevant aspects of the ICES Code (full version see: http://www.ices.dk/publications/our-publications/Pages/Miscellaneous.aspx) may be summarised to the following points:

   1. identify stock of interest (cultured or wild) in its current location;

   2. evaluate stock health and disease history;

   3. take and test samples for RSIVD, pests and general health/disease status;

   4. import of a founder (F-0) population and quarantine in a secure facility;

   5. produce F-1 generation from the F-0 stock in quarantine;

   6. culture F-1 stock and at critical times in its development (life cycle) sample and test for RSIVD and perform general examinations for pests and general health/disease status;

   7. if RSIVDV is not detected, pests are not present, and the general health/disease status of the stock is considered to meet the basic biosecurity conditions of the importing country, zone or compartment, the F-1 stock may be defined as RSIVD free or specific pathogen free (SPF) for RSIVDV;

   8. release SPF F-1 stock from quarantine for aquaculture or stocking purposes in the country, zone or compartment.

4. With respect to point 3 e), quarantine conditions should be conducive to multiplication of the pathogen and eventually to clinical expression. If quarantine conditions are not suitable for pathogen multiplication and development, the recommended diagnostic approach might not be sensitive enough to detect low infection level.

This Article does not apply to aquatic animals referred to in point 1 of Article 10.8.3.

Article 10.8.9.

Importation of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products for processing for human consumption from a country, zone or compartment not declared free from red sea bream iridovirus

When importing, for processing for human consumption, aquatic animals or aquatic animal products of species referred to in Article 10.8.2. from a country, zone or compartment not declared free from RSIVD, the Competent Authority of the importing country should assess the risk and, if justified, require that:

1. the consignment is delivered directly to, and held in, quarantine or containment facilities until processing into one of the products referred to in point 1 of Article 10.8.3., or products described in point 1 of Article 10.8.11., or other products authorised by the Competent Authority; and

2. water used in transport and all effluent and waste materials from the processing are treated in a manner that ensures inactivation of RSIV or is disposed in a manner that prevents contact of waste with susceptible species.

For these commodities Member Countries may wish to consider introducing internal measures to address the risks associated with the commodity being used for any purpose other than for human consumption.

Article 10.8.10.

Importation of live aquatic animals intended for use in animal feed, or for agricultural, industrial or pharmaceutical use from a country, zone or compartment not declared free from red sea bream iridovirus

When importing, for use in animal feed or for agricultural, industrial or pharmaceutical use, live aquatic animals of species referred to in Article 10.8.2. from a country, zone or compartment not declared free from RSIVD, the Competent Authority of the importing country should require that:

1. the consignment is delivered directly to, and held in, quarantine facilities for slaughter and processing into products authorised by the Competent Authority; and

2. water used in transport and all effluent and waste materials from the processing are treated in a manner that ensures inactivation of RSIV.

This Article does not apply to commodities referred to in point 1 of Article 10.8.3.

Article 10.8.11.

Importation of aquatic animals and aquatic animal products for retail trade for human consumption from a country, zone or compartment not declared free from red sea bream iridovirus

1. Competent Authorities should not require any RSIVD related conditions, regardless of the RSIVD status of the exporting country, zone or compartment, when authorising the importation or transit of fish fillets or steaks (chilled or frozen) which have been prepared and packaged for retail trade and which comply with Article 5.4.2.

   Certain assumptions have been made in assessing the safety of the aquatic animal products listed above. Member Countries should refer to these assumptions at Article 5.4.2. and consider whether the assumptions apply to their conditions.

   For these commodities Member Countries may wish to consider introducing internal measures to address the risks associated with the commodity being used for any purpose other than for human consumption.

2. When importing aquatic animals or aquatic animal products, other than those referred to in point 1 above, of species referred to in Article 10.8.2. from a country, zone or compartment not declared free from RSIVD, the Competent Authority of the importing country should assess the risk and apply appropriate risk mitigation measures.