Legislative Decree 4 August 2008, n. 148. Implementation of Directive 2006/88 / EC relating to animal health conditions applicable to animal species of aquaculture and related products, as well as prevention certain aquatic animal diseases and measures to control such diseases.

The provisions of this legislative decree establish: a) the animal health rules governing the placing on the market, import and transit of aquaculture animals and related products; b) the minimum preventive measures aimed at increasing the level of awareness and preparedness of the competent health authorities, of the managers of aquaculture companies and other operators in the sector towards diseases in aquaculture animals; c) the minimum measures of control to be applied in the event of suspected or overt presence of an outbreak of certain diseases of aquatic animals.
The Decree applies to a) ornamental aquatic animals reared in non-commercial aquariums; b) wild aquatic animals collected or captured in view of their immediate introduction into the chain food; c) aquatic animals captured for the production of fishmeal, fish feed, fish oil and similar products. The Decree specifies the exceptions to its application.
The Decree is organized in 10 headings. Heading 1 defines its subject, scope and definitions. Heading 2 regulates the authorized aquaculture companies and processing establishments (their authorization and conditions thereof, their registration, inherent controls).
Heading 3 is about health police regulations relating to the release on the market of aquaculture animals and related products. This Part is made of 3 Sections, respectively dedicated to the application of the heading (to the diseases listed in Annex IV, part II, and to species susceptible to such diseases) and to the placing on the market of aquaculture animals intended for breeding and repopulation, aquaculture animals and products intended for human consumption, wild water animals and ornamental water animals.
Heading 4 regulates the introduction of aquaculture animals and related products from third Countries.
Heading 5 describes the procedure of report of disease and the minimum measures against the aquatic animals diseases, for the case of presence of one of the diseases included in the epidemiological list-survey. This heading also sets minimum fighting measures for particular cases of exotic diseases in aquaculture animals and for emerging diseases.
Heading 6 establishes monitoring and vaccination programs, especially in case of emerging and exotic diseases.
Heading 7 recognizes sickness benefits while heading 8 is about inspections, electronic management and competent authorities and laboratories.
The Decree ends with a heading dedicated to sanctions (9) and one dedicated to transitional and final provisions, including the referred repeals.