General considerations
The Competent Authority of an exporting country that is establishing a zone or compartment for international trade purposes should clearly define the subpopulation in accordance with the recommendations in the relevant chapters in the Aquatic Code, including those on surveillance, and the identification and traceability of aquatic animals. The Competent Authority of an exporting country should be able to explain to the Competent Authority of an importing country the basis for its claim of a distinct aquatic animal health status for the zone or compartment in such terms.
The procedures used to establish and maintain the distinct aquatic animal health status of a zone or compartment should be appropriate to the particular circumstances and will depend on the epidemiology of the disease, environmental factors, risk of introduction and establishment of disease, and applicable biosecurity measures. The exporting country should be able to demonstrate, through detailed documentation supplied to the importing country, published through official channels, that it has implemented the recommendations in the Aquatic Code for establishing and maintaining such a zone or compartment.
An importing country should recognise the existence of this zone or compartment when the appropriate measures recommended in the Aquatic Code are applied, and the Competent Authority of the exporting country certifies that this is the case. Note that an importing country may adopt a higher level of protection where it is scientifically justified and the obligations referred to in Article 2.1.2. are met. Article 4.1.4. is also relevant.
Where countries share a zone or compartment, the Competent Authority of each country should collaborate to define and fulfil their respective responsibilities.
The exporting country should conduct an assessment of the resources needed and available to establish and maintain a zone or compartment for international trade purposes. These include the human and financial resources and the technical capability of the Competent Authority (and of the relevant industry, in the case of a compartment) including on disease surveillance and diagnosis.