Section 1 General requirements for health visits and sampling

Health visits and sampling for the surveillance referred to in point (b)(ii) of Article 3(2) must comply with the following requirements:

1. (a)

   health visits and, where appropriate, the sampling must be carried out in the period of the year when prevalence of the parasite in the Member State, zone or compartment is known to be maximal. When such data is not available, sampling must be carried out in winter or at the beginning of spring;

2. (b)

   when molluscs are to be sampled in accordance with the requirements set out in Sections 2 to 4, the following criteria must apply:

   1. (i)

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

   2. (ii)

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

   3. (iii)

      when sampling in establishments or groups of establishments which utilise more than one water source for mollusc production, molluscs representing all water sources must be included for sampling in such a way that all parts of the establishment are proportionally represented in the sample;

   4. (iv)

      when sampling in mollusc establishments or groups of establishments, molluscs from a sufficient number of sampling points must be included in the sample in such a way that all parts of the establishment or group of establishments are proportionally represented 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 establishment or group of establishments shall be included in the sampling.