THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FOOD

Information Note - Importation Of Equine Semen Into The Republic Of Ireland


Summary Checklist for Importers:

When importing equine semen you must ensure that:

1. You are registered as an importer. See point (A) below
2. The semen was collected and stored from time of collection in an EU Approved Equine Semen Collection Centre in accordance with Council Directive 92/65/EEC, the EU Commission List is updated regularly. See point (B) below
3. The semen travels with an appropriate official health certificate issued by the country of origin either: An Intracommunity health certificate or EU approved Third country health certificate. See point (C) below
4. For importation of equine semen from another EU Member State a VET 1 form “Advance Notice of Importation of Animal products” is completed at least 24 hours prior to the importation and is sent to both: The Port of Entry and to and Livestock Breeding Section (LBS) Cavan. See point (D) below
5. For importation of equine semen from Third Countries (Non EU Countries e.g. Australia). A Common Veterinary Entry Document (CVED) is completed at least 24 hours prior to the importation of equine semen and is sent to both: LBS Cavan and to the Nominated Border Inspection Post (BIP). See point (E) below 
6. The semen travels with an appropriate zootechnical certificate. See point (G) below 
7. The appropriate fee (€100 per consignment) for imports of equine semen from third Countries is paid
8. All documentation relating to the import must be retained by the importer for a minimum of three years.

(A) Importers Of Animal Products Such As Semen Must Be Registered:
The European Communities (Registration of Importers of Animals Products) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 269 of 2004) prohibits the importation of products of animal origin unless the importer is registered with the Department of Agriculture and Food. Application forms for this purpose are available on request from Food Safety Division, Department of Agriculture and Food, 7 West, Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel No. (01) 6072023. http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/index.jsp?file=animal_products/importation/reg_of_importers_animals.xml

(B) Semen Collection Centre:
I. Imported semen (frozen/chilled-fresh semen) must be collected and stored from the time of collection in an EU Approved Equine Semen Collection Centre, as defined in Council Directive 92/65/EEC, in the country of origin. An up-to-date list of EU approved Equine Semen Collection Centres is available from the following EU Commission website links or from Livestock Breeding Section, Cavan (contact details below).

Centres within the EU: http://forum.europa.eu.int/irc/sanco/vets/info/data/semen/ms-sc-eq.html

Centres in Third countries: http://forum.europa.eu.int/irc/sanco/vets/info/data/semen/tc-sc-eq.htm

II. Both Frozen and chilled semen may be consigned either directly to your premises or to a Private Veterinary Practitioner where documentation accompanying the consignment must be kept on file for a minimum of three years.

(C) Health Certificate:
i. An Official Health Certificate corresponding to the models in the Annex to Commission Decisions 96/539/EC (for imports from outside the EU) or 95/307/EC (for imports from another member state of EU) as amended must accompany the consignment of equine semen. The Health Certificate must be issued by an official veterinarian duly authorised by the Competent Authority in the country of export and shall be produced at the time of importation to an Officer of the Minister for Agriculture and Food.

ii. Consignments of semen from the EU are subject to random, non-discriminatory official checks at the place of destination. All documentation accompanying imports must be kept for a minimum of 3 years. If a consignment is being broken up, a photocopy of the health certificate must accompany all batches of semen and a record kept of the final destination of all semen on the original certificate.

iii. It is important that anyone receiving either frozen or fresh/chilled semen from another EU country should ensure that the consignment is accompanied by a correctly completed official health certificate certifying that the appropriate tests have been carried out. This documentation should be checked by a Veterinary Practitioner prior to insemination of semen. If in doubt, the semen should not be inseminated and the local District Veterinary Office should be consulted.

(D) Importation From Another Member State Of The European Union:
A VET 1 form “Advance Notice of Importation of Animal products” must be completed by the importer and sent to the Point of Entry and to the Department of Agriculture and Food, Cavan at least 24 hours in advance of export from the Member State of origin (see bottom of VET 1 form for relevant fax numbers). VET 1 forms are available on request from Livestock Breeding Section, Department of Agriculture and Food, Government Buildings, Farnham St. Cavan. Tel. No. 049 4368292.

(E) Importation From Outside The European Union:
I. Commission Regulation EC 136/2004 requires that a Common Veterinary Entry Document (CVED) must be sent to the approved Border Inspection Post at first point of entry into the Community at least 24 hours in advance of the arrival of the consignment of equine semen. The original document must accompany the consignment of equine semen on the journey and be presented at the time of importation to an Officer of the Minister.

II. Equine semen imported from a Third Country (non-EU member state) to Ireland may only enter through an approved Border Inspection Post (BIP) in an EU Member State.

In Ireland these BIPs are: (i) Shannon Airport or (ii) Dublin Port.

III. The Advance Notification (CVED) should also be sent to the Department of Agriculture and Food Cavan. Forms are available on request from Livestock Breeding Section, Department of Agriculture and Food, Government Buildings, Farnham St. Cavan. Tel. No. 049 4368292.

(F) Export To Another Member State Of The European Union And To Third Countries:
Equine Semen must be collected in and consigned from an EU Approved Equine Semen Collection Centre accompanied by the appropriate Health certificate.

(G) Zootechnical Certificates:
Imported semen from horses entered or registered in a stud-book maintained by an approved body must be accompanied by a zootechnical certificate drawn up in accordance with the terms of Decisions adopted under Article 8 (2) of Council Directive 90/427/EEC and corresponding to the model in Annex I of Commission Decision 96/79/EC. Copies of this zootechnical certificate are available on request from Livestock Breeding Section, Department of Agriculture and Food, Government Buildings, Farnham St. Cavan. Tel. No. 049 4368292.

Offences:
The European Communities (Trade in Animals and Animals Semen, Ova and embryos) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 12 of 1996) gives legal effect to Council Directive 92/65/EEC which provides the legal basis for the trade in equine semen, ova and embryos.

Regulation 12 (1) states that a person shall not import or export semen of the equine species unless the semen is collected in an approved equine artificial insemination centre. Imported and exported semen must be:
(a) Collected and stored in an EU Approved Equine Semen Collection Centre in accordance with 92/65/EEC
(b) Accompanied during transport by an Intracommunity Health Certificate

The European Communities (Equine Stud-Book and Competition) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 399 of 2004) gives legal effect to Commission Decision 96/79/EC

A person who contravenes any of the Regulations under S.I. No. 12 of 1996 and/or S.I. No. 399 of 2004 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine or imprisonment or both.

Note: These Procedures Must Be Strictly Adhered To, In Order To Protect The Health Status Of The Equine Industry In Ireland.

Contacts:
1. Livestock Breeding Section, Department of Agriculture and Food, Government Buildings, Farnham St. Cavan. Tel. No. 049 4368292.
2. Food Safety Division, Department of Agriculture and Food, 7 West, Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2. Tel No. (01) 6072023.

This information is available on http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/index.jsp?file=areasofi/animalhealthandwelfare.xml