On November 11 and 12, 2008, it was held in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, the Third Meeting of the Interamerican Committee of Aquatic Animals Health of the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE).
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The Head Office of Aquaculture and Fishery Health is the area in charge of establishing the sanitary measures carried out to prevent, control, fight against and eradicate diseases and pests of the living aquatic species, with the aim of protecting its health and the health of humans. This Head Office was incorporated as an organized structure of the General Head Office of Animal Health on January 2005 and as of November 16, 2007 it has the following structure:

A Deputy Head Office of Planning and Sanitary Control
A Department Headquarters of Planning
A Department Headquarters of Sanitary Control.

Objective:

To prevent, control, fight against and eradicate disease that may attack species whose habitat is water, through the support of the Aquaculture Health Committees in the application of health measures; the preparation of projects of Mexican Official Norms and Laws that may guarantee its implementation.

Functions:

• To participate in the elaboration of projects and modifications of the Mexican Official Norms related to this subject.
• To review and dictate the work programs with respect to aquaculture health that the committees (CSA) present at the beginning of every yearly exercise and that are carried out with federal resources in coordination with the State Governments and the producers.

Services:

As of the publication and the enforcement of the General Law of Fishery and Sustainable Aquaculture, that in Article 103 of the eleventh title mentions that the Secretary will exert its power and faculties with respect to the health of aquaculture species through SENASICA, the Head Office of Aquaculture and Fishery Health of the General Head Office of Animal Health is in charge of issuing the certificates for:

a)      The imports and exports and international transit of aquatic species, its products and byproducts and of biological, chemical, pharmaceutical or food products intended for the use or consumption of such species.

b)     The movement of live aquatic species, in every stage of development, that are cultured in facilities located in the national territory, that is made from one aquatic production unit to the other, as well as its products and byproducts and biological, chemical, pharmaceutical or food products intended for the use or consumption of such species.

c)     The establishments in operation where they produce, process, commercialize, transport, and store products or aquatic byproducts as well as chemical, pharmaceutical and food products intended for the use or consumption of such species.

d)     Use and application of antibiotics, veterinary medicines, additives, and any other chemical substances to the culture organisms, and the introduction of live aquatic species to a body of water of federal jurisdiction.

e)     For facilities where aquaculture activities are held.

f)       For live aquatic species that are captured in natural populations and are destined to aquaculture , and

g)     Quarantine units.

Requirements for the health certificates for each and every one of these activities may be requested to the following e-mail address: sanidadacuicola@senasica.gob.mx

For more information call : (55)59 05 10 00 extensions  51 046 and 51 173

• General Law of Sustainable Fishery and Aquaculture, published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on July 24, 2007.

• Bills of the Mexican Official Norms about Aquaculture Health published in the Official Gazette of the Federation.

State Committees of Aquaculture Health

The Sanitary actions are performed through the auxiliary organizations (Aquaculture Health Committees), who are responsible of the operation of different actions implemented.  At present there are 20 State Committees.