National Certification and Inspection Program 



VS' National Certification and Inspection Program has two components: 

 ( 1 ) voluntary aquatic animal-health certification procedures and laboratory- 

 approval procedures for fish farms that export internationally and (2) rules for the 

 importation of aquatic animals and their products. These two complementary aspects 

 of the program ensure that foreign diseases notifiable to the Office International des 

 Epizooties (OIE) will be reported. 



Accredited veterinarians have a vital role in signing certificates of veterinary 

 inspection based on information gathered from farm inspections and onsite sample 

 collections and laboratory submissions. In most cases, herd health management 

 is provided by accredited veterinarians for the commercial salmon industry with 

 increasing utilization of full-time veterinarians in other marketable crop groups like 

 tropical and ornamental fish. 



Specialization of veterinary expertise is increasing as the number of APHIS-endorsed 

 certificates of veterinary inspection for international countries also rises. 



5-3 



