Article 47 of Council Directive 2006/88/EC requires Member States to draw up contingency plans for emerging and exotic diseases of aquaculture animals. These plans must specify the national measures required to maintain high levels of disease awareness and preparedness, ensure environmental protection and the measures to be implemented in the event of an outbreak of an emerging disease.
The criteria for drawing up the plans are set out in Council Directive 2006/88/EC, Article 47 and Annex VII and through this project, the Emerging Disease Contingency Plan has been drawn up to meet the requirements set out in the Directive.
The detailed procedures to be followed in the farms, laboratories, harvest stations and administration offices in the event of an emerging disease outbreak are set out in this Emerging Disease Contingency Plan and in accordance with the requirement of the Directive, this contingency plan will be reviewed at least every five years and submitted to the Directorate-General for Health & Consumers (DG SANCO) of the European Commission for approval.