Exporting Ovine and Caprine Semen to Australia

12 April 2010

caosemec.aus

Ref: AE-AU 24L
Date: 12 April 2010

1. Statutory authority

Pursuant to section 60 of the Animal Products Act 1999:

(i) I notify the following overseas market access requirements, entitled ovine and caprine semen to Australia

(ii) Revoke OMAR B CAOSEMEC.AUS 12.06.09.

This notice takes effect from date of signing.

Dated at Wellington this 18^th day of April 2010.
Signed: Matthew Stone BVSc MACVSc MVS (Epidemiology)
Group Manager
Animal Imports and Exports
Border Standards Directorate
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand
(pursuant to delegated authority)

2. Australian requirements

Ovine and caprine semen exported from New Zealand to Australia must comply with the import requirements of Australia listed in this notice as follows:

2.1 An Import Permit is required for the exportation of ovine and caprine semen to Australia.

2.2 An Official Veterinarian authorised by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry must certify, after due enquiry, the following:

2.2.1 The centre veterinarian who supervised the collection and processing of this semen is approved by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

2.2.2 The approved centre veterinarian is responsible for:

2.2.2.1 isolating the donor animal(s) from all other ruminants not of equivalent health status prior to semen collection for this consignment

2.2.2.2 supervising the isolation period

2.2.2.3 supervising the blood sampling of the donor animal(s), and collection and processing of the semen

2.2.3 Each donor animal(s) resided only on properties where bovine tuberculosis has not been diagnosed in sheep or goats during the 3 years immediately prior to collection.

2.2.4 Each donor animal(s) showed no clinical signs of Johne’s disease during the collection period.

2.2.5 Each sheep donor:

2.2.5.1 Either: originated from a flock accredited free of Brucella ovis infection

2.2.5.2 Or: gave a negative result to a CFT or an ELISA for Brucella ovis infection during the period between 14 days immediately prior to semen collection and export.

(To be deleted as appropriate)

2.2.6 At the time of semen collection, each donor animal(s) was free from quarantine restrictions.

2.2.7 During the seven-day period immediately prior to semen collection and during the period of semen collection, the donor animal(s) were isolated from sheep or goats not of an equivalent health status.

2.2.8.1 Either: On the day of the first collection of semen for this consignment and on the day of the last collection of semen for this consignment each donor was inspected by the centre veterinarian and found to be clinically healthy.

2.2.8.2 Or: On the day of the first collection of semen for export to Australia and on the day of the last collection of semen for export to Australia each donor was inspected by the centre veterinarian and found to be clinically healthy (the period between inspections must not exceed 14 days).

(To be deleted as appropriate)

2.2.9 The semen in this consignment was collected, processed and stored in accordance with the relevant sections of the OIE Code for Collection and Processing of Small Ruminant Semen.

2.2.10 For sex sorted semen, if included in this shipment:

2.2.10.1 The equipment used for sex-sorting sperm was cleaned and disinfected between animals according the sex semen licensor’s recommendations

2.2.10.2 Where seminal plasma, or components thereof, was added to sorted semen prior to cryopreservation and storage, it was derived from animals of the same or better health status.

2.2.11 The semen was identified in a legible and non-erasable manner, and has been stored, in fresh liquid nitrogen, since the end of the collection period until export, under the supervision of the Official Veterinarian in a container(s) in which no biological material other than semen, embryos or ova of equivalent health status was held. Reproductive material was not removed from containers for further processing, or aggregation with other reproductive material unless under the supervision of the approved veterinarian at an approved centre or laboratory.

2.2.12 Where reproductive material was removed from containers for further processing or aggregation with other reproductive material at an approved centre or laboratory, the dates of transfer, reason for transfer (e.g. for sex sorting), name of the approved centre or laboratory and the approved veterinarian must be listed against the containers.

2.2.13 The container used for export was:

2.2.13.1 Either: a new shipper

2.2.13.2 Or: emptied and inspected, and any loose straws removed prior to loading. The shipper, including all surfaces contacting the straws, was disinfected. Disinfectant used and active ingredient. Date of disinfection.

(To be deleted as appropriate)

(AQIS accepts the following disinfectants: 2% available chlorine, 2% Virkon, or irradiated at 50kGy)

2.2.14 Prior to export the transportation container, containing new liquid nitrogen, was sealed by an Official Veterinarian, using a seal that bears the marks to be recorded on the export certificate.

3. 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 for ovine and caprine semen to Australia dated 12 April 2010.

Additional Information on OMAR Notification: CAOEMBEC.AUS 12.04.10

1. This OMAR replaces the one dated 11 January 2005, and was approved by AQIS on the 4 May 2010. It is based on the relevant information as shown on the ICON data base (AQIS - original promulgation 25 February 1998, amended 30 July 1998 and 20 September 2002, updated 16 April 2004 and 1 April 2010: “Veterinary certification for the importation of ovine and caprine embryos from New Zealand”).

2. Each consignment of embryos must be accompanied by a valid Permit to Import Semen/Embryos into Australia obtained, prior to the export of the embryos, from the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) Office in the State/Territory of import

3. These requirements are the minimum requirements for importation into Australia. Different zones of Australia have different animal health status and state or territory veterinary authorities may require further testing or certification for certain diseases before direct export into a specific zone.

4. Clause 2.2.8.2: only one examination will be required if all collections for a particular consignment take place on the same day (this has been agreed with AQIS).

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'.