The Aquatic Animal Health Code (the Aquatic Code) provides standards for the improvement of aquatic animal health and welfare worldwide. These standards should be used by Members to set up measures for the prevention, early detection, reporting and control of pathogenic agents in aquatic animals (amphibians, crustaceans, fish and molluscs). Implementation of the recommendations in the Aquatic Code ensures the safety of international trade in aquatic animals and aquatic animal products while avoiding unjustified sanitary barriers.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE) has developed and published international standards since 1968. The World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) recognises the role of the Organisation (under its foundational name “Office International des Epizooties”) as the international standard-setting organisation for animal health and zoonoses, with which World Trade Organisation WTO Members should align their import requirements. The Aquatic Code is thus a key part of the WTO legal framework for international trade.
