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Aquaculture, in all it its aspects, is more than ever an international activity, implying connections both on technical and commercial levels between different countries within and outside of Europe. The further development of the European Union has helped this “natural” trend, whereas national producers associations are increasing their presence within international organisations, such as the FEAP.
However, some issues that are connected strictly to national legislation are creating an obstacle towards the complete harmonisation of production and husbandry techniques throughout European States. Within the most delicate issues, it is essential to include prevention and treatment remedies for farmed fish, whose species suffer from diseases common to most European countries. Although European legislation is making attempts to standardise licensing procedures for animal medicines, the aquaculture sector is suffering in the area of zootechnical work on minor species.
The pharmaceutical industry tends not to be attracted to develop products in a sector where the financial burdens of research and for licensing requirements cannot guarantee the product’s use and hence  the requisite economic returns. Issues relating to environmental considerations that sit beside human health protection require studies of high standards to be able to register medicines that are used in the aquatic medium. On the other hand, new legislation on fish welfare requires the animal’s basic needs to be fulfilled in order to guarantee farmed fish welfare and health.
An overview of the available medicines in various European countries will be shown, in order to point out the main gaps that exist in the European fish farming scenario.

Loredana Locatelli graduated in 1993 as a veterinary surgeon at the Università degli Studi of Milan (Italy) and became a registered practitioner in 1994 by the Ordine Medici Veterinari of Varese (Italy) and Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (UK). In 2001 she obtained the specialisation in “Fish health, fish farming and inspection of Fish Products”, Università degli Studi of Milan (Italy). Since 1998 she has been a Board Member of SIPI (Italian Society of Fish Pathologists).

Contact details:  Associazione Piscicoltori Italiani, Via del Perlar 37/A, 37135 Verona (Italy).
Tel: +39 (045) 580978, Fax: +39 (045) 582741. E-mail: veterinaria2@api-online.it