Exporting Caprine Embryos to Argentina

20 May 2005

capembec.arg

Ref: AE-AR 11L

Date: 20 May 2005

1. Statutory authority

Pursuant to section 60 of the Animal Products Act 1999, I notify the following overseas market access requirements, entitled caprine embryos to Argentina.

This notice takes effect from date of signing.

Dated at Wellington this 24th day of May 2005.

Karen Sparrow
Manager Exports
Biosecurity New Zealand
(pursuant to delegated authority)

2. Argentina Requirements

Caprine embryos exported from New Zealand to Argentina must comply with the import requirements of Argentina listed in this notice as follows:

2.1 An import permit is required for the exportation of caprine embryos to Argentina.

2.2 An official veterinarian of New Zealand must certify the following:

2.2.1 New Zealand is free from Brucella abortus, B melitensis, bluetongue, contagious agalactia, contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, maedi-visna, peste des petits ruminants, Q fever, goat pox, Rift Valley fever, rinderpest, scrapie and vesicular stomatitis.

2.2.2 In the 12 months preceding the collection of the embryos there were no laboratory diagnoses of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (paratuberculosis) or caprine arthritis encephalitis on either the farm of origin of the donor females or the collection centre.

2.2.3 The donor goats originate from a farm(s) of origin or an embryo collection centre that has been free from clinical and serological evidence of Mycoplasma mycoides mycoides LC during the 12 months prior to the collection of the embryos

2.2.4 The donor females originate from a farm(s) of origin that are officially free of Brucella melitensis and Mycobacterium bovis.

2.2.5 The embryo collection centre, which includes the processing laboratory and embryo storage facility, is approved and registered by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

2.2.6 The team veterinarian who supervised the embryo collection is approved by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

2.2.7 The embryo collection centre is isolated from other livestock establishments.

2.2.8 During the 24 hours prior to embryo collection and during the 30 days after the collection of embryos for export no cases of the diseases listed in Section 2.1 occurred in the female donors or in the other animals kept with the donors.

2.2.9 Within 30 days following the last day of embryo collection the donor female was tested for the following organisms with negative results:

2.2.9.1 Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (paratuberculosis) using:

Either 2.2.9.1.1 an ELISA
Or 2.2.9.1.2 complement fixation test (CFT)
Or 2.2.9.1.3 faecal culture
Or 2.2.9.1.4 agar gel immunodiffusion test

2.2.9.2 caprine arthritis encephalitis using:

Either: 2.2.9.2.1 agar gel immunodiffusion test
Or 2.2.9.2.2 an ELISA

2.2.10 The donor female was clinically normal during the collection of the embryos for export to Argentina and did not exhibit any clinical signs of Mycoplasma mycoides mycoides LC.

2.2.11 The semen used for fertilising the embryos was eligible for export to the Republic of Argentina.

2.2.12 The semen collection centre is routinely inspected by a veterinary officer approved by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

2.2.13 Biological products of animal origin used in the collection, processing, washing and preservation of the embryos were free of living micro-organisms. Antibiotics were added in accordance with the recommendations of the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS).

2.2.14 The equipment and instruments used for the collection, handling, washing, freezing, preservation and transport of embryos were sterilised according to the recommendations in the IETS Manual.

2.2.15 The embryos were examined before and after the washing procedure and before freezing at a 50X magnification, by rotating them on a culture plate. The zona pellucida of each embryo was intact and free of adherent material.

2.2.16 The embryos were washed in accordance with the recommendations of the IETS, by being transferred in groups of ten or fewer, through ten changes of sterile washing fluid, using a new sterile micro-pipette on each occasion. Each washing represented a dilution of 1/100 of the previous washing.

2.2.17 Only embryos from the same donor were washed together.

2.2.18 The ampoules/straws were identified according to the following system:

2.2.18.1 The code specifying the international identification of the company or organisation responsible for the collection of the embryos, the breed code and registration number of the donor.

2.2.18.2 Date of freezing.

2.2.18.3 Individual container number and number of embryos in the straw.

2.2.19 The shipping container is: either new or disinfected.

2.2.20 The shipping container contained fresh liquid nitrogen and was sealed by an official veterinarian with an official seal.

3. Revocations

CAPEMBEC.ARG 29.03.05 – caprine embryos to Argentina dated 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 Requirements for the Importation of caprine embryos, Circular No 29/97. Requirement for Mycoplasma mycoides mycoides LC received from Dr Rodolfo Acerbi, in a letter dated 31 August 2004 have been included.

Additional Information on OMAR Notification: CAPEMBEC.ARG 20.05.05

1. The export container(s) must be labelled perishable and identified by the following information:
   • number of the sanitary certificate
   • number of the seal
   • amount of straws
   • identification of the donor animals
2. The collection centre exporting to Argentina must be supervised by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and may be approved for these purposes when delegated for this function by SENASA who reserve the right of inspection when it is considered necessary for technical reasons.