EFSA’s scientific advice on aquatic species susceptible to specified diseases

The Animal Health and Welfare Panel (AHAW) of the European Food Safety Authority reviewed available scientific evidence for a number of fish and shellfish (molluscs and crustaceans)
species in order to identify their potential susceptibility to certain diseases specified in the European Union list of susceptible species.

The result of this work can serve as a basis for the European Commission to update the list of susceptible species farmed in Europe and/or imported into Europe, and to help establish
the most appropriate disease control measures.

The Panel investigated whether species indicated in the EU list should, in the light of the new scientific evidence, no longer be considered as susceptible, or if species other than
those already listed could be considered as susceptible.

Scientists were able to single out various species whose susceptibility is supported by sound scientific evidence; including some which are not currently part of the list. The Panel
recommends that these latter should be considered for possible inclusion in the list.

However, for a wide group of fish species, scientists were able to retrieve only partial evidence suggesting susceptibility of the species to specific pathogens or no evidence at all.
In both cases, the Panel is recommending further studies to investigate their susceptibility.

The scientific opinion published today identified a wide range of species, representing many groups of aquatic animals, susceptible to the 14 diseases of fish, molluscs and crustaceans
specified in the list.

Results of the scientific review also highlighted many species susceptible to a high number of diseases such as: Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome, Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia, White
Spot, and Yellow Head Disease. Scientists also indicated that some species are susceptible not only to one but to several disease agents. Scientists stressed that these species are
likely to present a higher level of risk than the species which are susceptible only to one disease.

The work was carried out by scientists in the AHAW Panel who gathered and reviewed the most up-to-date, peer-reviewed, scientific literature in the field. Panel scientists, supported by
external experts, developed a set of scientific criteria to objectively assess pathways for the infection and the response to such infections in the various species. These criteria were
applied to assess the susceptibility of the species.

A scientific revision of the Directive lists of susceptible fish and shellfish species was deemed necessary by the European Commission in the light of significant development of the
European and global aquaculture industry with new types of farming practices involving an increasing number of aquatic animal species.