EU imposes ban on Malaysian cyprinids

Download: EU imposes ban on Malaysian cyprinids (PDF file)
Malaysia is one of the main suppliers of ornamental fish to the EU. Among these are large numbers of koi and goldfish. However, on 18 June the European Commission adopted a decision that as from 15 July, all exports to the EU, not just of koi and goldfish, but of all other species belonging to the Cyprinidae as well, would be suspended. A European mission had already visited Malaysia in March 2005 in order to “evaluate the public health controls and the conditions of production of fishery products, live fish, their eggs and gametes destined for export to the European Union.” Having visited relevant government departments and selected establishments, the mission concluded that the system in operation at the time was not appropriate and that it did not allow the competent authority to certify that exports of live carp (including koi, of course) complied with the requirements of an EU Commission decision allowing it to issue harmonised health certificates for live fish imported into the EU. Still in 2005, Malaysia promised that relevant experts were being sought, that testing programmes for the stated diseases would be reviewed for 2006 and that appropriate steps would be taken to rectify the deficiencies raised by the mission. However, the situation didn’t really improve. In the words of the Commission document that followed the latest visit: “The results of the latest Community inspection visit to Malaysia have revealed serious shortcomings as regards registration of aquaculture farms, notification of diseases and official controls on animal health throughout the production chain of aquaculture animals and ornamental fish. Such shortcomings are likely to lead to the spread of disease, thus presenting a serious threat to animal health in the Community.” The EU Commission announced that it was therefore necessary to suspend imports from Malaysia of all cyprinid species, not just koi and goldfish, but also barbs, rasboras, danios, sharks and all other species from this family currently exported by Malaysia. After the publication of the Commission decision, the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) lobbied the UK authorities, while Ornamental Fish International (OFI) tackled Brussels, arguing that the suspension should be restricted to SVC-susceptible species only. Spring Viremia of Carp (SVC) is a viral disease that can cause significant mortality of common carp. The Commission decision has now…