Training of Trainers - Library - Network of Aquaculture Centres in ...

aquatic systems and hosts leading to serious consequences in the Asia-Pacific region include epizootic ulcerativesyndrome (EUS) in fresh and brackish water fishes, white spot syndrome virus (WSSV), taura syndrome virus(TSV) and Infectious myonecrosis virus (IMNV) in cultured shrimp and viral nervous necrosis (VNN) in grouperand koi herpes virus (KHV) in koi and common carp. Careful examination of the history and spread of thesediseases in the region indicate how irresponsible or ill-considered movements of live animals can impactaquaculture and wild fisheries resources. In many cases, these impacts are a direct result of absence of nationaland regional disease management strategies or non-compliance by stakeholders to regional and internationalagreements and standards.International AgreementsVarious global instruments, codes of practice and guidelines (either voluntary or obligatory) exist that providecertain levels of protection, all aimed at minimizing the risks due to pathogens/diseases associated with aquaticanimal movement. There are a number of international agreements that directly relate to health management andtrans-boundary movement of live aquatic animals, or include provisions that consider the risks and managementof risk associated with introduction of aquatic animal pathogens through trans-boundary movement. Theseinclude:a) FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, created in 1995, sets out principles and internationalstandards of behaviour for responsible practices with a view to ensuring the effective conservation, managementand development of living aquatic resources, with due respect for the ecosystem and biodiversity.b) ICES Code of Practice on the Introductions and Transfers of Marine Organisms, created in 1973 andupdated in 1994, gives recommended procedures and practices to reduce the risks of detrimental effects from theintentional introduction and transfer of marine (including brackish water) organisms. ICES code is endorsed byFAO Regional Fishery Bodies.c) Cartagena protocol on Bio-safety, adopted in 2000 under the Convention on Biological Diversity and in forcefrom September 2003, seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modifiedorganisms resulting from modern biotechnology.d) Convention on Biological Diversity, adopted in 1992 and in force from 1993, its objectives are theconservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of thebenefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.e) World Trade Organization (WTO), established in 1995 is the only global international organization dealing withthe rules of trade between nations. The WTO Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary agreement (SPS) specificallyaddresses the management of diseases and pathogens associated with trans-boundary movements. The WTO-SPS Agreement sets out the basic rules for food safety and animal and plant health standards. The basic aim ofthe SPS Agreement is to maintain the sovereign right of any government to provide the level of health protection itdeems appropriate, but to ensure that these sovereign rights are not misused for protectionist purposes and donot result in barriers to international trade. The Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and PhytosanitaryMeasures (the “SPS Agreement”) entered into force with the establishment of the WTO on 1 January 1995 (WTO1998). The SPS Agreement sets out the basic rules for food safety and animal and plant healthstandards. “Sanitary and phytosanitary measures” are defined in the SPS Agreement as follows:“… any measures applied:(i) to protect animal or plant life or health within the territory of the Member from risks arising from theentry, establishment or spread of pests, diseases, disease-carrying organisms or disease-causingorganisms;143