keep MODIFICATION OF DIRECTIVE 2006/88/EC
These are 2019 Brexit amendment regulations that adapt two EU regulations (Council Regulation 708/2007 on alien species in aquaculture and Commission Regulation 535/2008 implementing rules) for operation in Great Britain after EU Exit. They replace EU references with UK/GB authorities (Secretary of State, Welsh Ministers, Scottish Ministers), define 'appropriate authority' and 'constituent GB territory', maintain alien species and aquatic animal health controls, and establish quarantine and risk assessment requirements for aquaculture facilities using non-native species.
While these regulations impose compliance costs on aquaculture operators, deleting them would create a regulatory vacuum in Great Britain for aquatic biosecurity, disease control, and invasive alien species management. The core framework addresses genuine externalities—disease transmission between aquaculture facilities and ecological harm from invasive species—that private markets cannot adequately prevent. Without these rules, aquatic disease outbreaks or invasive species escapes could cause significant economic damage to the aquaculture industry and broader ecosystem. The post-Brexit adaptation of previously-functioning EU regulations simply transfers regulatory responsibility to UK authorities rather than removing protections altogether.