Article 167 Dispatch to the Union of aquatic animals

Consignments of aquatic animals shall only be permitted to enter the Union if the aquatic animals of the consignment comply with the following requirements:

1. (a)

   they were dispatched directly from their establishment of origin to the Union;

2. (b)

   they were not unloaded, moved to another means of transport or unloaded from their container when transported by air, sea, railway or by road, and the water in which they are transported was not changed, in a third country or territory, zone or compartment which is not listed for entry of the particular species and category of aquatic animals into the Union;

3. (c)

   they have not been transported under conditions that have jeopardised their health status, in particular:

   1. (i)

      where relevant, they must have been loaded and transported in water which did not alter their health status;

   2. (ii)

      the means of transport and the containers must have been constructed in such a way that the health status of the aquatic animals was not jeopardised during the transport;

   3. (iii)

      the container or well boat must have been cleaned and disinfected, in accordance with a protocol and with products approved by the competent authority of the third country or territory of origin, prior to loading for dispatch to the Union, which ensure that the health status of the aquatic animals is not jeopardised during transport;

4. (d)

   from the time of loading at the establishment of origin until the time of arrival to the Union, they must not have been transported in the same water or container or well-boat together with aquatic animals which were of a lower health status or which were not intended for entry into the Union;

5. (e)

   where a water exchange is necessary in a third country, territory, zone or compartment which is listed for entry of the particular species and category of aquatic animals into the Union, it must not have jeopardised the health status of the animals being transported and it must have only occurred:

   1. (i)

      in the case of transport on land, at water exchange points approved by the competent authority of the third country or territory where the water exchange takes place;

   2. (ii)

      in the case of transport by well-boat, at a distance which is at least 10 km from any aquaculture establishments which are located en-route from the place of origin to the place of destination in the Union.