218. It is essential that the welfare of farmed fish is not adversely affected by limiting the availability of vaccines or therapeutic medicines which are known to be effective and do not pose a food safety or environmental hazard. Ways must therefore be found to achieve rapid availability of vaccines and medicines to deal with emergencies such as major outbreaks of disease, and also to increase the range of vaccines and medicines approved for the treatment of fish. Well-tried and efficient medicines must not be lost unless adequate alternatives are available.