Rapid Diagnosis of Aquatic Animal Diseases Using Diagnostic Kits... Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Announces Legislative Notice

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] From now on, aquatic animal diseases can also be rapidly diagnosed using rapid diagnostic kits.

The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries announced that it has prepared a partial amendment to the Aquatic Animal Disease Control Act and will give a 40-day legislative notice from the 24th to April 5th. This partial amendment allows for the rapid diagnosis of aquatic animal diseases using rapid diagnostic kits and the establishment of efficient response measures through improvements in the reporting system.

A legal basis has been established to allow the use of rapid diagnostic kits that can quickly diagnose aquatic animal diseases on-site, enabling the use of rapid diagnostic kits recently developed and distributed mainly by private companies.

To strengthen quarantine of imported aquatic animals, regulations on the registration and on-site inspection of overseas aquatic animal production facilities have also been established. Foreign local companies intending to export aquatic animals to Korea must register their aquatic animal production facilities with the Korean government, and if necessary, the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries may conduct on-site inspections of the facilities through consultations with the counterpart country.

In addition, to respond quickly to new international standards, disease management criteria related to the international sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) will be separately announced. Diagnostic institutions will directly input reports of aquatic animal disease outbreaks into the National Aquatic Product Quarantine System, establishing a system that can respond promptly to aquatic animal disease outbreaks.

Kim Sung-won, Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy Division at the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, said, “By thoroughly blocking aquatic animal diseases that may be introduced from overseas, we will create a healthy aquatic ecosystem that can stably supply aquatic products.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.