Indicator 4.2.1.6

Requirement

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

Regular veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional visits may fall into two categories:
- Routine: Performed on a regular basis to monitor the health and welfare of the farmed crustaceans.
- Reactive: Performed in response to deterioration or concerns for the health or welfare status of the farmed crustaceans.
  - Sites should be prepared to provide the veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional with detailed information about the observed symptoms, recent changes in behaviour, morphology, water quality or mortality and any relevant history of disease or treatments.
  - The site should use reactive health visits to address immediate health or welfare concerns, diagnose underlying causes of problems, and implement targeted interventions to mitigate risks and prevent further spread of disease.
For routine visits, preparation is recommended to ensure a meaningful outcome from the veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional. Below are some practical considerations:
- Visit scheduling: Ensure key employees are available during the visit to provide relevant required information and to facilitate adequate follow-up.
  - Designate a senior employee to serve as the primary point of contact for the veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional during the visit.
    
    This individual can help coordinate the activity, ensure relevant information is available, assist during the visit and ensure follow-up.
- Gather and organise relevant information: Compile relevant information about the operations including, for example, species being cultured, production systems, stocking densities, recent health history including treatments, water quality monitoring results, behaviour, morphology and mortalities data, feeding plan, any previous health report and of any ongoing issue.
- Having this information readily accessible will facilitate discussion and decision-making during the visit.
- Prepare the UoC for the visit: Ensure the UoC is prepared for the visit and for providing full access to all relevant areas to the veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional.
- Address any maintenance issues, clean tanks or ponds as needed and ensure clear access to all relevant areas of the facility.
- Ensure handling and other equipment that might be needed during the visit, such as nets, containers and sampling equipment, is available and in good working condition.
- Make sure employees are aware of the visit and its objectives and encourage them to proactively participate in it.
- During the visit: Ensure relevant information is discussed with the veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional and that the visit includes all relevant areas within the UoC.
- After the visit: Follow up on any recommendations or actions discussed during the visit.
- Implement any necessary revisions or changes to management practices, treatment protocols, or facility conditions based on the veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional’s feedback and any sample or testing results
- Continuous improvement: Use the insights gained from the veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional visit to identify opportunities for continuous improvement in health and welfare management.

Evidence of Implementation

Health reports.
Testing results.
Records:
- Veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional qualifications.
- Veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional visit.
- Recommendations or actions discussed during the visit.

Auditors Should Confirm

The qualifications of the veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional and cross-check the frequency of visits with records.
Existence of health reports and testing results.

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Requirement

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

Evidence of Implementation

Auditors Should Confirm