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Food Safety

Movements and entry into the Union of aquatic animals

Movements within the Union

The rules concerning movements of aquatic animals within the Union are set out in Chapter 2 of Title II of Part IV of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. These rules are supplemented by animal health, notification and certification requirements for movements within the Union, which are set out in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/990. Furthermore, Annex I to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2236, sets out the model animal health certificates which must be used for certain movements of listed species of aquatic animals within the Union.

Entry into the Union

The rules concerning animal health requirements for the entry into the Union of aquatic animals from non-EU countries and territories and zones or compartments thereof, are set out in Part V of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. These rules are supplemented by the general rules which are set out in Part I, and the specific rules concerning aquatic animals of listed species which are set out in Part V, of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692.

Annex II to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2236, sets out the model animal health certificate which must be used for the entry into the Union of listed species of aquatic animals intended for certain purposes other than human consumption. The countries and territories and zones or compartments thereof, from which these listed species of aquatic animals must originate are set out in Annex XXI to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404.

Chapters 28 and 31 of Annex III to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 set out the official certificates, which apply when certain aquatic animals enter the Union intended for human consumption. The animal health attestations set out in Part II.2. of those model certificates apply to live aquatic animals of listed species.

In certain specific circumstances, as set out in the Notes to the model certificates in Chapters 28 and 31 of Annex III, these live animals may originate from a non-EU country or territory, zone or compartment thereof, which is listed in Annex VIII or Annex IX to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405, as relevant; but in all other circumstances, live aquatic animals of listed species which are intended for human consumption, should originate from a non-EU country or territory, zone or compartment thereof, which is listed in Annex XXI to Regulation (EU) 2021/404.

The entry into the Union of aquatic animals of non-listed species takes place in accordance with the national rules which have been developed by the Member State of destination, based on the legal provisions set out in Articles 234, 237 and 238(4) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429.