Press Release: Commission welcomes Council adoption of new rules on the health of farmed fish

Markos Kyprianou, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection, has welcomed the adoption of a new Directive on the health of farmed fish and shellfish and disease control in the aquaculture sector, at the Agriculture Council on 24 October 2006. The Directive, which was proposed by the Commission last year (see IP/05/1062), aims to improve the health of aquaculture animals in the EU by upgrading the current legislation and introducing a series of new measures, including more emphasis on disease prevention at each point in the production chain. In setting down clear-cut and harmonised EU rules, the new legislation should also help to boost competitiveness in the EU aquaculture sector, which has a production value of some €2.6 billion a year, and facilitate increased trade in fishery products.