(1)

Regulation (EU) 2017/625 lays down rules for the performance of official controls and other official activities, including for the selection and designation of European Union reference centres for animal welfare. European Union reference centres for animal welfare support horizontal activities of the Commission and of the Member States in the area of welfare requirements for animals, which is referred to in Article 1(2), point (f), of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.

(2)

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/329 (2) designated a European Union reference centre for animal welfare that, according to its work programme, focuses on pigs. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1685 (3) designated a European Union reference centre for animal welfare for poultry and other small farmed animals. Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/755 (4) designated a European Union reference centre for animal welfare for ruminants and equines.

(3)

In accordance with Article 95(2), point (a), of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, the Commission carried out a public selection process through a call for selection and designation of a European Union reference centre for the welfare of aquatic animals. The evaluation of the applications received was carried against the requirements and responsibilities set out in Articles 95(3) and 96 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 and against the criteria set out in the call for selection.

(4)

Based on the results of the evaluation, the consortium led by the University of Crete (Greece), and also composed of the Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology (Czechia) and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (Spain) (the ‘consortium’) should be designated as the European Union reference centre for the welfare of aquatic animals. The consortium will be responsible for the supporting tasks included in the European Union reference centre’s annual or multiannual work programme. This work programme is to be established in accordance with the requirements of Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2021/690 of the European Parliament and of the Council (5).

(5)

Article 95(2), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 requires that the designation of a European Union reference centre for animal welfare is to be limited in time or reviewed regularly. Therefore, the designation of the European Union reference centre for the welfare of aquatic animals should be reviewed every 7 years from the date of application of this Decision.

(6)

The designated European Union reference centre for the welfare of aquatic animals should be given time to prepare its work programme for the next budgetary period. Therefore, this Decision should apply from 1 February 2024,