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System

Water Type

Feed Dependent

Species

Indicator 4.4.4

Requirement

Indicator 4.4.3

Requirement

Indicator 4.4.2

Requirement

Indicator 4.4.1

Requirement

The UoC shall only use therapeutants as prescribed by a registered veterinarian or aquatic animal health professional.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • Therapeutant prescriptions should be accordance with regulatory requirements.

    • Prescribed by a registered veterinarian or a qualified aquatic animal health professional.

Evidence of Implementation

  • If prescriptions are made by health professionals who are not veterinarians, obtain evidence of competency (e.g. accreditation) in diagnosing, for the purposes of the WOAH Aquatic Animal Health Code.

  • Records:

    • Prescriptions and therapeutants use (for details, refer to Indicator 4.4.2).

Auditors Should Confirm

  • Prescriptions and therapeutants use.

  • The observation should be cross-checked with records.

  • If a non-veterinarian wrote prescriptions, confirm that the individual is qualified as an aquatic animal health professional.

Useful Resources

Indicator 4.2.3.10

Requirement

Indicator 4.2.3.7

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that an overdose of anaesthetic is only used to kill crustaceans not destined for human consumption.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • The use of anaesthesia should be considered as a humane method for crustaceans not destined to human consumption.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Consideration for the use of anaesthesia for killing.

  • Culling procedure.

  • Records:

    • Anaesthetic usage amount and number of culled crustaceans.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The UoCs consideration of the use of anaesthetics for killing.

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

Indicator 4.2.3.6

Requirement

The UoC shall not use any of the following methods to kill crustaceans: – asphyxiation in air; or – carbon dioxide (CO2) bath; or – salt baths; or – ammonia baths; or – evisceration.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • The only killing method allowed for crustaceans is a controlled ice slurry:

    • This involves immersing crustaceans in a slurry of ice and water, causing rapid cooling.

    • To clarify, electrical stunning is a stunning method and not a killing method. Stunning methods are designed to render animals insensible to pain before they are killed, whereas killing methods result in the animal’s death. Stunning is a preliminary step followed by a killing method to ensure that the animal does not regain consciousness.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Employees should demonstrate knowledge confirming the approved killing methods.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The use of approved methods for killing and awareness of non-approved methods.

Useful Resources

Indicator 4.2.3.1

Requirement

Indicator 4.2.2.10

Requirement

Indicator 4.2.2.9

Requirement

The UoC shall ensure that the HMP considers predation risks specific to the types of handling activities and shall include appropriate predator control measures.

How Do I Interpret This Requirement?

  • For developing a site-specific predator control within the HMP, the UoC should consider:

  • The site-specific characteristics required to be assessed by Indicator 4.2.1.8.e) predator control measures specific to the type of handling, e.g.:

    • Birds scaring devices.

    • Use of appropriate nets sizes while moving crustaceans from one unit/pond to another.

Evidence of Implementation

  • Predator control measures specific to the type of handling operations.

  • Verification of mortalities associated with predators during handling operations.

Auditors Should Confirm

  • The HMP includes the required considerations above.

  • Employees are:

    • Familiarised with the predator control considerations in the HMP by conducting employee interviews and observations.

  • Trained on predator control verifications, e.g.:

    • Verification of mortality events specific to the type of handling operations by reviewing employees’ training records, conducting employees’ interviews and observations.