Division I.1 General requirements

Health inspections and, where appropriate, the sampling of production units shall be carried out in the period of the year when prevalence of Bonamia ostreae in the F1constituent GB territory, zone or compartment is known to be maximal. When such data is not available, sampling shall be carried out in winter or at the beginning of spring.

When molluscs are to be sampled in accordance with the requirements set out in Part 5, the following criteria shall apply:

1. (a)

   if Ostrea edulis are present, only oysters of that species shall be selected for sampling. If Ostrea edulis are not present, the sample shall be representative of all other susceptible species present;

2. (b)

   if weak, gaping or freshly dead but not decomposed molluscs are present, such molluscs shall primarily be selected. If such molluscs are not present, the molluscs selected shall include the oldest healthy molluscs;

3. (c)

   when sampling in farms which utilise more than one water source for mollusc production, mollusc representing all water sources shall be included for sampling in such a way that all parts of the farm are proportionally represented in the sample;

4. (d)

   when sampling in mollusc farming areas, molluscs from a sufficient number of sampling points shall be included in the sample. The main factors to be considered for the selection of those sampling points are previous points where Bonamia ostreae was detected, stocking density, water flows, the presence of susceptible species, the presence of vector species, bathymetry and management practices. Natural beds within or adjacent to the farming areas shall be included in the sampling.