Exporting Caprine Semen to Argentina

25 September 2008

capsemec.arg

Ref: AE-AR11L

1. Statutory authority

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

This notice takes effect from date of signing.

Dated at Wellington this 8^th day of June 2009.

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. Argentina Requirements

Caprine semen 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 semen to Argentina.

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

2.2.1 New Zealand is officially free of the following diseases: contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, bluetongue, brucellosis (Brucella melitensis & B. abortus), contagious agalactia, enzootic abortion of ewes, foot-and-mouth disease, maedi-visna, Nairobi sheep disease, peste des petits ruminants, pulmonary adenomatosis, Q fever, Rift Valley fever, scrapie, sheep and goat pox, and vesicular stomatitis.

2.2.2 Since 1954 no cases of scrapie have been diagnosed in New Zealand. New Zealand complies with the conditions set out in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the OIE to be recognised as a country free of scrapie.

2.2.3 The semen collection centre is approved by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to collect semen from small ruminants.

2.2.4 The semen collection centre is under the direct supervision and sanitary control of a centre veterinarian who is approved by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

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

2.2.6 The semen collection centre is isolated from other livestock establishments.

2.2.7 The donor goats originate from a farm(s) of origin and a semen collection centre that has been free from clinical evidence of caprine arthritis encephalitis and Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) during the 6 months prior to collection of semen.

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

2.2.9 Prior to entering the semen collection centre for collection, the bucks were isolated for a period of at least 30 days. During this time they were subjected to the following tests, with a negative result in each case:

2.2.9.1 Brucella ovis, using:

2.2.9.1.1 Either: Complement fixation test

2.2.9.1.2 Or: Agar-gel immunodiffusion test

(To be deleted whichever is not applied)

Date tested.

2.2.9.2 Johne's disease, using:

2.2.9.2.1 Either: Complement fixation test

2.2.9.2.2 Or: Faecal culture

2.2.9.2.3 Or: Agar-gel immunodiffusion test

2.2.9.2.4 Or: ELISA

(To be deleted whichever is not applied)

Date tested.

2.2.9.3 Caprine arthritis encephalitis, using:

2.2.9.3.1 Either: Agar-gel immunodiffusion test

2.2.9.3.2 Or: ELISA

(To be deleted whichever is not applied)

Date tested.

2.2.10 Once on the semen collection centre, and within 30 days prior to first collection of semen for export to Argentina, the donor animals were tested with negative results for the diseases listed in section 2.2.9 above.

2.2.11 Animals remaining on the centre have been tested every 6 months according to the procedures detailed in section 2.2.9 above.

2.2.12 The donor bucks have not been vaccinated against Brucella ovis.

2.2.13 At the time of collection of the semen, the donors were free from any clinical evidence of disease. The donor bucks were continuously resident at the approved artificial breeding centre during the collection period, and for a period of at least 30 days following collection of the semen for export to Argentina. During this time, the donor animals were kept under clinical observation without detection of clinical evidence of disease.

2.2.14 The donor male was clinically normal during the collection of the semen, and did not exhibit any clinical signs of Mycoplasma mycoides mycoides LC.

2.2.15 The shipping container is either new or disinfected.

2.2.16 The shipping container contained fresh liquid nitrogen and was sealed by an Official Veterinarian with an official seal bearing the marks to be recorded on the export certificate. Serial number of the shipping container.

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 the exportation of caprine semen to Argentina dated 25 September 2008

Additional Information on OMAR Notification: CAPSEMEC.ARG 25.09.08

1) This OMAR replaces that dated 29 March 2005. The only changes made are: i) amendment of clause 1.2 with regards to scrapie; and ii) editorial. The changes were approved by SENASA in a letter to the New Zealand Embassy in Buenos Aires dated 11 May 2009.

2) The semen container(s) must be labelled perishable and identified by the following information:

• number of the zoo-sanitary certificate
• number of the seal
• amount of straws
• identification of the donor animals.

3) The semen containers must be filled with the amount of refrigerant necessary to guarantee their arrival at destination, having a surplus sufficient to preserve the complete viability of their content for no less than 72 hours after their scheduled arrival in the Argentine Republic, as well as for the occasional delays which may occur during shipping and/or transit.

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.'