Exporting Bovine Semen to Argentina

27 September 2006

bovsemec1.arg

Ref: AE-AR 05G

Date: 26 September 2006

1. Statutory authority

Pursuant to section 60 of the Animal Products Act 1999, I notify the following overseas market access requirements, entitled bovine semen to the Argentina (collected after 14 July 2003).

This notice takes effect from date of signing.

Dated at Wellington this 6^th day of October 2006.

Signed
Karen Sparrow
Manager-Exports Group
Pre-Clearance
Biosecurity New Zealand
(pursuant to delegated authority)

2. Argentina Requirements

Bovine semen (collected after 14 July 2003) exported from New Zealand to Argentina must comply with the import requirements of Argentina listed in this notice as follows:

2.1 An official veterinarian authorised by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry must certify, after due enquiry, the following:

2.2.1 New Zealand is free from Akabane, bluetongue, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, brucellosis (B.abortus), contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, cowdriosis, foot and mouth disease, Leptospira canicola, L. icterohaemorrhagica, L. grippotyphosa, L. castellonis, L. pyrogenes and L. wolffi, lumpy skin disease, Q fever, Rift Valley fever, rinderpest and vesicular stomatitis. Vaccination against these diseases is prohibited.

2.2.2 The semen collection centre at which the semen was collected:

2.2.2.1 is approved by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry as having facilities suitable for isolating animals and collecting, processing and storing semen in accordance with the OIE International Animal Health Code, mammals, birds and bees.

2.2.2.2 is under the direct supervision and sanitary control of a veterinarian who is responsible for the hygiene of the centre and the health of the animals and who has been approved by Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

2.2.2.3 is regularly inspected by a veterinary officer accredited by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

2.2.3 During the 90 days prior to the date of the first collection of semen for export to Argentina and the 45 days following the date of the last collection of semen for export there were no reports of any notifiable diseases on the contiguous properties.

2.2.4 During the period of 90 days prior to the date of the first collection of semen and 45 days following the date of the last collection of semen, the semen collection centre has remained free from the following diseases:

• Bovine tuberculosis
• Bovine leucosis
• Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR/IPV)
• Bovine virus diarrhoaea
• Paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease)
• Leptospirosis
• Trichomoniasis
• Campylobacteriosis
• Bovine malignant catarrhal fever

2.2.5 The donor animals

either 2.2.5.1 were either born in New Zealand

or 2.2.5.2 have previously only remained in countries with an equal or

superior health status.

2.2.6 The donor animals have

2.2.6.1 remained permanently in the semen collection centre (referred to in Section I of the export certificate), for a period of 2 months prior to the first collection of semen for export to Argentina and 45 days following the date of the last collection.

2.2.6.2 not been used for natural mating since completing the diagnostic tests referred to in clause 2.2.8, until the last collection of semen for export to Argentina.

2.2.6.3 remained under the observation of the semen centre veterinarian during the 45 days following the last collection of semen and have not displayed any signs of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp mycoides LC or any other infectious disease.

2.2.7 The donor animal has never been fed goats milk.

2.2.8 The donor animals were subjected to tests for the following diseases/disease organisms, with negative results in each case:

2.2.8.1 either within 60 days prior to the date of the first collection of semen in the case of bulls not permanently resident in the semen collection centre

2.2.8.2 or within 180 days prior to the date of the first collection of semen in the case of bulls that are continuously resident in the semen collection centre

2.2.8.3 leptospirosis using:

either 2.2.8.3.1 MAT with live antigens of the following Leptospira interrogans serovars: Pomona and hardjo (negative at 1/100)

or 2.2.8.3.2 specific antibiotic therapy, with approved drugs and an international recommended dose, referenced in the sanitary certificate. Product used and dose rate

2.2.8.4 paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease) using a complement fixation test or an ELISA

2.2.8.5 tuberculosis using an interdermal caudal fold test with bovine PPD tuberculin. Results are to be read after 72 hours

2.2.8.6 bovine leucosis virus using either an agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test or an ELISA

2.2.8.7 infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus:

either 2.2.8.7.1 using a serum neutralisation test or ELISA with negative results

or 2.2.8.7.2 by culturing each batch of semen to be exported to Argentina with negative results

2.2.8.8 Trichomonas fetus

either 2.2.8.8.1 in the case of bulls that have been keptcontinuously in the semen collection centre since less than 6 months old or have been kept since that age only in a single sex group prior to entering the centre they were tested once by culturing a preputial specimen, with a negative result

or 2.2.8.8.2 in the case of bulls not permanently resident in the semen collection centre or aged 6 months or older that could have had contact with females prior to quarantine they were tested three times at weekly intervals by culturing a preputial specimen, with a negative result

2.2.8.9 Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis

either 2.2.8.9.1 in the case of bulls that have been kept continuously in the semen collection centre since less than 6 months old or have been kept since that age only in a single sex group prior to entering the centre they were tested once by culturing a preputial specimen, with a negative result

or 2.2.8.9.2 in the case of bulls not permanently resident in the semen collection centre or aged 6 months or older that could have had contact with females prior to quarantine they were tested three times at weekly intervals by culturing a preputial specimen, with a negative result

2.2.8.10 bovine viral diarrhoea virus using semen culture with a negative result.

2.2.9 The semen for export to Argentina was:

2.2.9.1 collected, processed and stored according to the recommendations of the OIE and in a manner that preserves the integrity of the semen from external contamination

2.2.9.2 kept in the semen collection centre for a period of 45 days prior to the date of export to Argentina.

2.2.10 Prior to leaving the storage premises for export to Argentina all documents

pertaining to the consignment were verified as being in order.

2.2.11 Immediately prior to export to Argentina the semen container was sealed with

an official seal bearing marks. Mark numbers to be recorded on the export certificate.

3. Revocations

OMAR B BOVSEMEC.ARG 29.04.04 – bovine semen to Argentina is revoked and replaced by this OMAR notification.

4. Definitions

For the purposes of this document:

Any term or expression that is defined in the Animal Products Act 1999 and used, but not defined in this document, has the same meaning as in this Act.

Explanatory note

These overseas market access requirements are based on the export certificate dated 26 September 2006.

Additional Information on OMAR Notification: BOVSEMEC1.ARG 26.09.06

1. The only change to this OMAR is the removal of the requirement for an import permit for export of bovine semen to Argentina.
2. Requirements for certification: all corresponding records of the importation must be available for at least 10 years following the date of the certification, and must be able to be provided to the Argentinean Health Authorities if requested, within 30 days following receipt of the mentioned request.
3. Clause 2.2.8: the time frames stated should be interpreted such that they provide a start date (but not an end date) for the period within which the disease testing needs to be completed. Therefore, a small aliquot of semen from the first collection can be used to test for BVD as per clause 2.2.8.10, providing that the required negative test results are known before the semen is being exported.

Section 61.A of the Animal Products Amendments Act 2005 states that 'The Crown is not liable, and nor is the Director-General or any employee of the Ministry liable, for any loss arising through the refusal or failure of the relevant authority of an overseas market to admit export animal material or animal product to that market'.