Exporting Ovine Embryos to Argentina

21 January 2004

oviembec.arg

Ref: AE-AR24L

Date: 21.01.04

1. Statutory Authority

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

This notice takes effect from date of signing.

Dated at Wellington this 23rd day of February 2004.

Signed by Carolyn Hini
National Manager International Animal Trade
MAF Biosecurity Authority
(pursuant to delegated authority)

2. Argentina Requirements

Ovine 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 ovine 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, enzootic abortion of ewes, maedi-visna, Nairobi sheep disease, ovine pulmonary adenomatosis, peste des petits ruminants, sheep pox, Rift Valley fever, rinderpest, Q fever, 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 Brucella ovis on either the farm of origin of the donor females or the collection centre.

2.2.3 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.

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

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

2.2.6 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 Sections 1.1 and 2.1 occurred in the female donors or in the other animals kept with the donors.

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

2.2.7.1 Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (paratuberculosis) using:

Either 2.2.7.1.1 an ELISA Or 2.2.7.1.2 complement fixation test (CFT) Or 2.2.7.1.3 faecal culture Or 2.2.7.1.4 agar gel immunodiffusion test

2.2.7.2 Brucella ovis using complement fixation test

2.2.8 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.

2.2.9 The donor female has never been fed goats milk

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

2.2.11 The collection centre that provided for the production of embryos for export is approved and registered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

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

2.2.13 The donor male has never been fed goat's milk

2.2.14 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).

2.2.15 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.

2.2.16 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.

2.2.17 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.

2.2.18 Only embryos from the same donor were washed together.

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

2.2.19.1 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.

2.2.19.2 Date of freezing.

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

2.2.20 The shipping container contained new liquid nitrogen and prior to export was sealed under veterinary supervision using seals bearing the marks:

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 Zoosanitary conditions for the import of sheep embryos, Circular No 027/97.

Additional Information on OMAR Notification: OVIEMBEC.ARG 21.01.04

1. The export container(s) must be labeled 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 export 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.