Transparency data

FHI Quarterly Report - 1 April to 30 June 2019

Updated 15 November 2019

Applies to England and Wales

1. Finfish Disease Surveillance and Compliance

The quarter ended with 65% of the total annual routine finfish disease surveillance programme for 2019 completed. The overall forecast is on target for the year providing there are no significant changes that impact delivery. Industry compliance with conditions of authorisation remains high with no non-compliance findings. The rising temperatures brought a change to the priority programmes for this period - moving from salmonid disease surveillance to coarse fish surveillance for SVC.

The spring programme of VHS and IHN surveillance in salmonids came to an end as water temperatures consistently exceeded 14 degrees C. By the end of the quarter the salmonid programme was 83% complete for the year, the remaining inspections are scheduled for the autumn period when the water temperatures are back in the range conducive to expression of disease.

Priority was given to the coarse fish disease surveillance programme for SVC, which requires rising water temperatures above 5 °C to a maximum of 17°C. As the quarter progressed water temperatures exceeded the maximum limit of the range for expression of this disease bringing the spring surveillance period to a close. By the end of the quarter the programme was 97% complete, the remaining inspections are scheduled for completion in early autumn.

By the end of the quarter water temperatures had risen sufficiently to sit consistently within the optimum range for expression of KHV disease, meaning the routine programme of surveillance inspections on farms and on fisheries under control for the disease could begin. The quarter closed with 18% of the KHV farm surveillance programme complete and continuing into the next quarter.

FHI delivers a long-standing surveillance programme on live fish imported from third countries. Samples of fish are tested for the presence of diseases at point of import or at first destination. This programme is risk-based with samples prioritised according to new sources, volume of trade and data from the previous history of disease testing. This programme has proven to be invaluable in protecting the UK from the introduction of serious diseases, such as SVC – for which the UK achieved freedom in 2010 - and has also contributed to the identification of new and emerging diseases. In this period, a further three rounds of import sampling were conducted at the Heathrow airport Border Inspection Post. 14 samples were collected from ornamental goldfish and koi imported from Israel, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and Thailand. All samples tested negative for SVC. In addition, a consignment of lumpfish, Cyclopterus lumpus, imported from Norway was sampled for VHS. The sample tested negative.

The FHI standard Biosecurity Measures Plan template for finfish farms and importers has been revised, with a simplified layout and new sections to cover contingency planning and emergency preparedness in the event of a serious disease outbreak, and a section on approved sources for importers. The Inspectors will roll this out to industry throughout the course of this year’s farm visit programme. The new template is available on GOV.UK. The changes are designed to further increase awareness of biosecurity risks and risk management, contributing to the strengthening of national biosecurity for aquatic animal health. Under the Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 all authorised aquaculture production businesses farms, importers, traders and dealers must operate in accordance with a BMP approved by the FHI.

2. Shellfish Disease Surveillance and Compliance

The shellfish programme is yet to start for 2019 – it begins during summer when water temperatures are appropriate for the diseases under surveillance.

The histopathology laboratory recently participated in the biennial proficiency test for molluscan diseases as organised by the EURL for Mollusc Diseases and achieved a very high score of 97% ,which places Cefas in the top percentile of participating laboratories. The proficiency tests are important in demonstrating and maintaining the high standards of diagnostic testing delivered by the Cefas laboratory.

3. Confirmation of Notifiable Disease

There were no Confirmed Designations issued during this quarter, but with temperatures rising during June and KHV disease outbreak season beginning, we expect to be reporting an increasing number of confirmed cases of KHV disease during the next quarter. All cases of notifiable disease as confirmed by the FHI are published on GOV.UK

4. Disease and Mortality Reports and Investigations

The FHI received a steady number of mortality reports and disease outbreaks throughout the quarter – 27 in total. 12 resulted in FHI statutory investigation and sample, either on suspicion of notifiable/ emerging disease or because these could not be ruled out, with four sites being placed under Initial Designation on suspicion of notifiable disease. The reports covered a diverse range of sectors - from recreational and wild fisheries to garden ponds and shellfish depuration facilities - although reports from recreational freshwater fisheries dominated.

As an extension to the investigation on suspicion of Bonamia exitiosa in The Solent, reported in the first quarter, an additional sample of native oysters, Ostrea edulis, was collected and the tests were negative for Bonamia exitiosa, which now concludes the FHI statutory investigation for this case.

One particularly interesting case in common carp, Cyprinus carpio, has been taken forward for further research. The FHI received a report from a recreational coarse fishery where approximately 30-40% of the carp exhibited severe pustule-like eruptions of the skin, although not associated with any mortality. The FHI investigated and a presumptive diagnosis based upon clinical expression and histology indicated an infection with Dermocystidium koi, a parasitic eukaryote of taxonomic complexity. Further work will now be undertaken by Cefas diagnostic researchers using molecular techniques to provide a definitive identification.

5. Enforcement and Better Regulation

The FHI continue to work with United Kingdom Border Force CITES team regarding illegal exports of elvers. This is an ongoing exercise and supports the role of the FHI in a multi-agency approach to tackling illegal elver trade.

In 2015 Defra and Border Force established a strategic relationship whereby assistance is provided with respect to official checks on goods at points of entry, intelligence sharing and enforcement activities. This strategic relationship resulted in improved cooperation between the FHI and Border Force officials, particularly in combatting illegal trade in fish imported from Europe. Border Force.

The Business Impact Target (BIT) is an assessment of the impact of new regulatory provisions on businesses. Regulators are required to report on the BIT as a statutory obligation under the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act (SBEE) 2015. As a +/- £5 million threshold in relation to the impact of regulatory changes has been applied, it is unlikely that any regulatory changes in the aquatic animal health sector will qualify for the full regulatory assessment process. However, the FHI is required to report upon non-qualifying regulatory provisions (NQPR). The summary assurance statement for the business impact target for the reporting period 2018-19 was submitted to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The Regulatory Policy Committee confirmed the statement which was published on the GOV.UK website.

6. Policy, Legislation, Trade Issues

The FHI provided a significant amount of policy advice and support during this period and participated in a number of expert groups contributing to the development of new EU legislation and international standards. This included advice on EU-exit and animal export health certification requirements, comments on European application approved compartment assessments, participation in expert working groups for the development of Delegated Acts under the new EU Animal Health Regulation (Regulation 2016/429), and contribution to the OIE International Standard revisions adopted at the OIE 87th General Session in Paris, and work to resolve trade issues.

7. Representation

In June a Fish Health Inspector represented Cefas at the GB Wildlife Disease Surveillance Partnership meeting in Bristol. He provided an update on the current regulatory provisions for the control of the disease of salamanders and newts Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (B.sal), and on work being undertaken at Cefas on diseases of wild caught wrasse for the developing trade in cleaner fish as used for the biological control of sea lice in Atlantic salmon, research into new and emerging diseases, and on the wild fish monitoring programme conducted by the FHI to screen for gyrodactylids in England and Wales.

The FHI hosted a meeting with the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA). This was an opportunity for the FHI to engage with the ornamental aquatic stakeholder representative body and to discuss issues and possible solutions being proposed by OATA to improve the process for clearance of newly imported consignments through the Border Inspection Posts.

Representatives from the FHI and the Cefas statutory diagnostic services attended the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) DERC quarterly meeting in June. The DERC has a specific remit to ensure sufficient laboratory facilities for the diagnosis and surveillance of exotic notifiable diseases of animals are available during outbreaks and other increases in demand. Cefas are now standing members of the Committee, representing aquatic animal health.

A Senior Shellfish Inspector delivered a presentation on the UK shellfish industry and statutory disease controls as part of an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) training course run by the Cefas Shellfish Hygiene group on behalf of the Food Standards Agency. The course was held at Cefas Laboratory in Weymouth.

EURL 23rd Finfish and 10th Crustacean Annual Workshops took place in Denmark at the end of May and were attended by Inspectors. European Union Reference Laboratories (EURL’s) are required to hold annual meetings with representatives of all member states on means to improve surveillance and diagnostics of aquatic animal diseases.