Division 2 Sampling for the purposes of Article 3(2)(b), 5(1)(b) and 5(2)

Sampling for the purposes of Article 3(2)(b) shall consist of:

1. (i)

   in the case of larvae, five pools of at least 50 mg of whole animals collected between 4 and 8 days after fecundation including shell per consignment;

2. (ii)

   in the case of spat smaller than 6 mm, 30 pools of 300 mg of whole animals including shell per consignment;

3. (iii)

   in the case of oysters bigger than 6 mm, 150 individuals per consignment.

When selecting those animals, all parts of the consignment must be proportionally represented in the sample. If weak, gaping or freshly dead (not decomposed) animals are present, primarily such animals shall be selected.

Sampling for the purposes of Article 5(2) shall consist of at least 150 individuals of Crassostrea gigas per sampling points. All farms or mollusc farming areas in the Member State or compartment covered by the programme shall be sampled.

Sampling for the purposes of Article 5(1)(b) shall consist of at least 150 individuals of Crassostrea gigas oysters per compartment.

When selecting those animals, the following criteria shall be taken into account:

• If weak, gaping or freshly dead (not decomposed) animals are present, primarily such animals shall be selected. If such animals are not present, the animals selected shall include healthy molluscs less than 12 months old.

• When sampling in farms in which more than one water source is utilised for production, animals representing all water sources must be included for sampling in such a way that all parts of the farm are proportionally represented in the sample.

• When sampling in mollusc farming areas, animals from a sufficient number of sampling points, at least three sampling points, shall be included in the sample in such a way that all parts of the mollusc farming area are proportionally represented in the sample, including natural beds present in the mollusc farming area. The main factors to be considered for the selection of these sampling points are: previous detection of OsHV-1 μvar in the area, stocking density, water flows, bathymetry and management practices.

The sampling provided for in Article 5(2) shall be carried out in the period of the year when prevalence of OsHV-1 μvar in the Member State or compartment is known to be maximal. When such data is not available, sampling shall be carried out just after the period when the water temperature exceeds 16 °C or at the time of the year when the temperature normally reaches its yearly maximum.

The sampling provided for in Article 5(1)(b) shall preferably be carried out in the period of the year described in point c. If samples are collected outside that period of the year, the sampled oysters must be maintained under conditions equivalent to those described in point c for a period suitable for the detection of OsHV-1 μvar, before being tested.