EU breathing space for barbs and gouramis

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Concerning exports and imports of barbs and gouramis, there is cause for greater optimism than there was just a few weeks ago, writes aquatics expert John Dawes in his column.
The EU has decided to include barbs, gouramis and other ornamental fish in the list of species deemed to be susceptible to Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome (EUS). Imports of these fish would in practice – though not necessarily in theory – cease under the new Directive that will come into force on 1 August 2008. Nevertheless, I hope that discussions being held by the industry with the EU Directorate General might result in some common sense being introduced into the conversation and that this might then result in the EU reconsidering its crazy decision. Should these discussions fail to make progress, they would effectively result in the import of these species being prohibited unless they meet the EU's strict two-year EUS-free requirements.
I was, however, cautious in my optimism because the list of genera and species in the Directive has already been published, even though the implementation date is not until 1 August. As such, any deletions or modifications would involve changes to the legislation, something that would at best be extremely difficult now that it is already published.
Well, I've got some good news for the readers of PET in Europe following the outcome of urgent discussions that representatives of Ornamental Fish International (OFI) have held on the matter with the EU authorities “to bring some common sense into the proceedings”. The result is that the wording of the Directive will remain unchanged, since it's too late for any revisions. So at first sight, all barbs, gouramis, labeos, snakeheads, Catla and Mastacembelus species are still listed as being susceptible to EUS and thus requiring a disease-free status period of two years. However, the regulation governing the health certificates that will be required in fulfilment of the Directive is now in its seventh draft...and it is here that progress is being made.
Exports and imports are permitted up to end of 2010
At the meeting held with representatives of the European Commission, several proposals were tabled. One of these was that, while accepting that the directive cannot be changed at this late stage, it should still be possible for the regulation regarding the health certificates to be revised in such a way that the EUS requirement is postponed for an…