19.7. 93 Official Journal of the European Communities No L175/23 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 93/53/EEC of 24 June 1993 introducing minimum Community measures for the control of certain fish diseases THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (*), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (?), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas fish are listed in Annex II to the Treaty; whereas the marketing of fish constitutes an important source of revenue for the aquaculture sector; Whereas it is necessary to establish at Community level the control measures to be taken in the event of outbreaks of disease, in order to ensure rational development of the aquaculture sector and to contribute to the protection of animal health in the Community; Whereas it is necessary, for diseases to be covered, to refer to the lists laid down in Annex A to Council Directive 91/67/EEC of 28 January 1991 concerning the animal health conditions governing the placing on the market of aquaculture animals and products (*); Whereas an outbreak of such diseases can quickly take on epizootic proportions, causing mortality and disturbances on a scale liable to reduce severely the profitability of aquaculture; Whereas control measures must be taken as soon as the presence of such a disease is suspected so that immediate and effective action can be implemented as soon as its presence is confirmed; Whereas such measures must be aimed at preventing the spread of the disease, in particular by carefully controlling movements of fish and products liable to spread the infection; Whereas the prevention of diseases in the Community must normally be based on a non-vaccination policy; Whereas a thorough epizootiological investigation is essential to prevent any spread of the diseases; whereas the Member States must establish special units for that purpose; (') O] No C 172, 8. 7. 1992, p. 16. (3) O] No C 150, 31. 5. 1993. () OJ No C 19, 25. 1. 1993, p. 4. () OJ No L 46, 19. 2. 1991, p. 1. Whereas, in order to ensure an effective system of control, diagnosis of the diseases must be harmonized and carried out under the auspices of responsible laboratories, the coordination of which may be carried out by a reference laboratory designated by the Community; Whereas, in order to ensure uniform implementation of this Directive, a Community inspection procedure should be established; Whereas common measures for the control of the diseases form a minimum basis for maintaining a uniform standard of animal health; Whereas Council Decision 90/424/EEC of 26 June 1990 on expenditure in the veterinary field (°), and in particular Article 5 thereof, applies in the event of an outbreak of one of the diseases listed in Annex A to Directive 91/67/EEC; Whereas the Commission should be entrusted with the task of adopting the necessary implementing measures; whereas, for that purpose, a procedure should be established to bring about close and effective cooperation between the Commission and the Member States within _the Standing Veterinary Committee, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: CHAPTER General provisions Article 1 This Directive defines the minimum Community measures for the control of the fish diseases referred to in Annex A, lists I and 1II, to Directive 91/67/EEC. Article 2 For the purposes of this Directive, the definitions laid down in Article 2 of Directive 91/67/EEC shall apply as necessary. (*) OJ No L 224, 18. 8. 1990, p. 19. Decision as last amended by Decision 92/438/EEC (O] No L 243, 25. 8. 1992, p. 27).