Indicators 4.4.9 and 4.4.11

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System

Water Type

Feed Dependent

Species

Indicators 4.4.9 and 4.4.11

by Contact on 8 October 2026

Requirement

Indicator applicability: every UoC using antibiotic treatments. The UoC shall investigate the root cause when an antibiotic treatment does not produce the expected efficacy and shall implement appropriate corrective actions to improve the efficacy of subsequent treatments.

Indicator applicability: every UoC using antiparasitic treatments except for marine salmonids in cages treated for sea lice. The UoC shall investigate the root cause when an antiparasitic treatment does not produce the expected efficacy and shall implement appropriate corrective actions to improve the efficacy of subsequent treatments.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Treatment failure:

    • Persistent symptoms or signs of diseases, or continued detection of the infectious agent causing the diseases being treated.

    • In many cases, is detected in the form of sustained mortality that does not decrease in response to treatment.

      • Possible causes are multiple and varied e.g.:

    • The development of resistance.

    • Low appetite in the case of in-feed medication.

    • Inadequate dosage.

    • Inaccurate diagnosis.

    • Inaccurate treatment selection

    • Inadequate distribution of medicated feed

    • The UoC should document treatment efficacy and changes to inform disease management, leading to better future treatments and early resistance detection.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Treatment efficacy records:

    • Plotting received actual dose versus effect (for example, in terms of parasite clearance).

    • Plotting mortality trends.

    • Taking samples and testing them for the pathogen of interest.

    • Employees should demonstrate adequate knowledge of the treatment plan.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Treatment plan and efficacy checks implemented:

    • Implementation can be confirmed by cross-checking the plan with records, information from employee interviews and observations.

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