1. Aquatic Code and Aquatic Manual OIE General Session May 2013
Workshop for OIE National Focal Points for Aquatic Animals
Byblos, Lebanon
12 – 14 August 2013
Gillian Mylrea
Aquatic Code and Aquatic Manual
changes adopted at the
OIE General Session May 2013 1

2. Outline Changes adopted at the General Session May 2013 in:
The OIE Aquatic Animal Health Code
revisions to the Glossary
new / revised OIE listed diseases
new / revised chapters
The OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests for
Aquatic Animals

3. ‘There is only one pathway for the adoption of OIE standards’
The World Assembly of Delegates:
the highest authority of the OIE
comprises the Delegates of all Member Countries
meets once a year at the General Session of the Assembly, in May in Paris
The main functions of the Assembly are:
to adopt international standards in the field of animal health, especially for international trade

4. Aquatic Code Glossary 2013 Changes:
‘Aquatic animal health professional’
new definition
‘means a person who, for the purposes of the Aquatic Code, is authorised by the Competent Authority to carry out certain designated tasks in a territory and has the appropriate qualifications and training to perform the designated tasks.’

5. Aquatic Code
Chapter 1.1. Notification of Diseases and Epidemiological Information
describes Members obligations regarding disease notification and reporting
2013 Changes:
was updated and harmonised with equivalent chapter in the Terrestrial Code.

6. Aquatic Code Chapter 1.2. Criteria for listing aquatic animal diseases
describes Criteria used to list an aquatic animal disease and an emerging aquatic animal disease in the Aquatic Code.
2013 Changes:
some explanatory text was added clarifying that:
listed diseases have corresponding disease specific chapters (i.e. specific trade standards)
listed emerging diseases do not have corresponding disease specific chapter (i.e. no specific trade standards).

7. Aquatic Code Chapter 1.3. Diseases listed by the OIE 2013 Changes:
lists aquatic animal diseases (listed and emerging) that must be notified by OIE Members through WAIH system
2013 Changes:
Epizootic ulcerative syndrome
‘Infection with Aphanomyces invadans (epizootic ulcerative syndrome)’
Infectious salmon anaemia
‘Infection with HPR-deleted or HPR0 infectious salmon anaemia virus’
Both genotypes (HPR-deleted and HPR0 ISAV) should be notified in accordance with Ch 1.1. of the Aquatic Code

8. Chapter 1.3. Diseases listed by the OIE (continued..)
2013 Changes:
New listed disease:
‘Infection with salmonid alphavirus’
New emerging disease:
‘Infection with ostreid herpesvirus-1 microvariant1‘
1 Listed according to Article (i.e. a listed emerging disease)

9. Aquatic Code Chapter 2.1. Import Risk Analysis
provides recommendations and principles for conducting transparent, objective and defensible risk analyses for international trade.
2013 Changes:
text updated
harmonised with the equivalent chapter in the Terrestrial Code.

10. Aquatic Code
Chapter 5.3. OIE Procedures relevant to the WTO SPS Agreement
describes role of OIE
outlines judgement of equivalence
outlines steps to establish a zone/compartment
describes OIE informal procedure for dispute mediation
2013 Changes:
NEW chapter
harmonised with the equivalent chapter in the Terrestrial Code.

11. Aquatic Code
Chapter Infection with Aphanomyces invadans (epizootic ulcerative syndrome)
provides recommendations for safe trade regarding aquatic animals and their products.
2013 Changes:
revised to ensure consistency with the revised
name change in Ch 1.3. i.e.
‘Epizootic ulcerative syndrome’ changed to ‘Infection with Aphanomyces invadans’
Article minor amendments, refer to GS report

12. Aquatic Code
Chapter Infection with infectious salmon anaemia virus
provides recommendations for safe trade regarding aquatic animals and their products.
2013 Changes:
‘Infectious salmon anaemia’ changed to ‘Infection with infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV)’ throughout
ISAV recognised as having HPR0 and HPR-deleted variants
ISAV means ‘Infection with HPR-deleted or HPR0 ISAV
Variants pose different levels of risk for trade purposes. Therefore, differentiation of HPR0 and HPR-deleted ISAV throughout the chapter.

13. Aquatic Manual
Chapter Infection with Aphanomyces invadans (epizootic ulcerative syndrome)
describes diagnostic tests for detection of Infection with A. invadans
2013 Changes:
‘Infectious salmon anaemia’ changed to ‘Infection with infectious salmon anaemia virus’ throughout to ensure consistency of nomenclature with the corresponding amended Code chapter

14. Aquatic Manual
Chapter Infection with infectious salmon anaemia virus
describes diagnostic tests for detection of Infection with infectious salmon anaemia virus.
2013 Changes:
to ensure consistency of nomenclature with the corresponding amended Code chapter

15. Aquatic Manual
Chapter Infection with ostreid herpesvirus-1 microvariant
describes diagnostic tests for detection of Infection with ostreid herpesvirus-1 microvariant
An OIE listed emerging disease.
2013 Changes:
name amended to align with the new listing of ‘Infection with ostreid herpesvirus-1 microvariant’ as an emerging disease (Code chapter 1.3.)

16. Conclusion

17. Thank you