1. The Association has the objective to contribute to the Protection of the Union citizens from serious cross-border health threats and specifically from health threats related to the maritime transport sector. It is active at Union level and possesses a balanced geographical coverage of the EU.
2. The Association works in the public health area by effectively participating in public consultations at Union level.
3. The Association supports and participates in the EU SHIPSAN JOINT ACTION and all relevant forthcoming actions in, amongst or in cooperation with EU member States and EU authorities, including all relevant future programs, actions or projects.
4. The Association supports secretariat services for the implementation of the EU inspection program according to the European Manual for Hygiene Standards and Communicable Disease Surveillance on Passenger Ships.
5. The Association promotes by all means necessary, including support to training seminars for Authorities Officers, the consistency of procedures and practices relating to the inspections in EU member States.
6. The Association supports the operation, maintenance and development of information systems related to maritime public health issues (e.g. communication platform, recording and issuing Ship Sanitation Certificates under the IHR 2005, other inspection reports produced by the SHIPSAN projects and the joint action).
7. The Association supports/organises activities related to training on maritime health and hygiene issues at local, national, European and international levels and for shipping industry.
8. The Association formulates working groups to provide guidelines on specific public health issues and for revising/updating existing ones produced by the SHIPSAN projects and the joint action.
9. The Association provides ad hoc services to the maritime shipping industry and authorities on health related issues including training as per their request.
10. The Association cooperates with authorities, industry and other organization to research activities and produce scientific results.
11. The Association supports EU Member States, at their request, in the implementation of the following legislation:
- Decision No 1082/2013/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2013 on serious cross-border threats to health and repealing Decision No 2119/98/EC;
- Directive 2010/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 on reporting formalities for ships arriving in and/or departing from ports of the Member States and repealing Directive 2002/6/EC;
- Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety;
- Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 of 29 April 2004 laying down specific rules for the organization of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption. Amended by: Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, Commission Regulation (EC) No 2074/2005 of 5 December 2005, Commission regulation (EC) No 2076/2005, Commission Regulation (EC) No 1663/2006 of 6 November 2006, Council Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006 of 20 November;
- Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs;
- Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for on the hygiene of foodstuffs;
- Directive 2009/16/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on port State control.
- International Health Regulations 2005
- the extensive EU legislation to streamline and strengthen European Union capacities and structures to better protect European citizens from a wide range of serious cross-border health threats and other relevant international instruments concerning the effective response to serious cross-border health threats.
12. In regards to meetings/organisational issues the Association has the tasks to:
- keep under review other matters relating to the operation and the effectiveness of the Association;
- organize meetings/conferences/training courses, circulate papers/newsletters and provide such assistance as may be required to enable the Association to carry out its functions;
- facilitate the exchange of information, carry out the procedures and prepare reports as may be necessary for the purposes of the Association.
