Ovine Semen to Armenia

16 February 2010

ovisemec.arm

Ref:  AE-AM-24L

1.  Statutory authority

Pursuant to section 60 of the Animal Products Act 1999:

(i)  I notify the following overseas market access requirements, entitled ovine semen to Armenia.

This notice takes effect from date of signing.

Dated at Wellington this 2nd day of September 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.  Armenia requirements

Ovine semen exported from New Zealand to Armenia must comply with the import requirements of Armenia 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:

2.1.1  New Zealand is officially free of African swine fever (African pig plague), anthrax, bluetongue, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), brucellosis (Brucella abortus & B. melitensis), classical scrapie, contagious agalactiae of sheep or goats, contagious bovine & caprine pleuropneumonia, enzootic abortion of ewes (chlamydiosis), foot‑and‑mouth disease, maedi‑visna, peste des petits ruminants, (small ruminant plague; pseudo rinderpest), pulmonary adenomatosis, Q fever, and sheep & goat pox.

2.1.2  The donor animals have resided in New Zealand since birth.

2.1.3  Prior to the collection of semen, the donor animals have been resident on a MAF-approved semen production centre, which was under the supervision of a MAF-accredited veterinarian, for at least twenty-eight (28) days following the successful completion of all entry requirements.

2.1.4  The care of the donor animals, as well as the collection of semen from the rams, was carried out in accordance with the defined sanitary measures of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

2.1.5  The donor animals from which semen was collected have not been vaccinated against brucellosis and ovine epididymitis.

2.1.6  During the twenty-eight (28) days  prior to the collection of semen, the donor animals were not used for natural mating.

2.1.7  The donor animals are free of any evidence of known genetic defects and have not been shown to be associated with such defects in close relatives or with any reproductive disorder.

2.1.8  The donor animals did not receive any feed of animal origin, for the preparation of which internal organs and meat of ruminants were used.

2.1.9  The semen was collected from donor animals residing at the semen production centre, which was free of animal related contagious diseases.

2.1.10  All donor animals were inspected by a MAF-approved veterinarian at the time of the collection of the semen and were found to be free from evidence of communicable diseases including the following: epididymitis, and listeriosis. In addition, for the seven (7) days immediately preceding the collection of semen exported to Armenia, there has been no evidence of communicable diseases to which sheep are susceptible on the semen production centre.

2.1.11  During the three years prior to the collection of semen for Armenia, the premises of origin has been free, based on clinical and epidemiological evidence, from caprine arthritis-encephalitis, border disease (hairy shaker disease; ovine pestivirus infection), bovine tuberculosis, partuberculosis (Johne’s disease), ovine epididymitis (Brucella ovis).

2.1.12  During the three months prior to the collection of semen for Armenia, the premises of origin has been free, based on clinical and epidemiological evidence, from listeriosis, campylobacteriois (Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus) and infectious epididymitis.

2.1.13  During the three days prior to the collection of semen for Armenia, the premises of origin has been free, based on clinical and epidemiological evidence, from leptospirosis.

2.1.14  Within thirty (30) days immediately prior to entry onto the semen collection centre, each donor animal was tested with negative results for the following diseases:

2.1.14.1  ovine epididymitis:

2.1.14.1.1  Either by using the CFT or an ELISA. Date of sampling

2.1.14.1.2  Or they originated from a Brucella ovis accredited free flock.

(To be deleted as appropriate)

2.1.14.2  paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease), using the AGID or an ELISA. Date of sampling

2.1.14.3  leptospirosis: on arrival at the semen collection centre, they were injected with dihydrostreptomycin or another antibiotic which is effective in eliminating leptospires from the kidneys.

2.1.15.  The semen was processed in a way that prevented its contamination with pathogenic or toxin-producing micro-organisms.

2.1.16  The semen was collected and packaged in special containers filled with liquid nitrogen.

2.1.17  The semen exported to Armenia was certified and packaged in individual straws. Permanent markings on each straw include the date of semen collection, the donor’s name, breed and number. This information is also shown in the Zoosanitary Certificate

2.1.18  The shipping container containing the semen has been sealed with a MAF-approved seal. The serial number or markings of the seal and the serial number of the shipping container are shown in the Zoosanitary 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 the export certificate for sheep to Armenia dated 16 February 2010.

Additional Information on OMAR Notification: OVISEMEC.ARM 16.02.10

1.  This is a new OMAR based on the new export certificate which is based on part of the ‘additional certification statements of import health requirements of Armenia for buck semen exported from Canada’. The certificate was approved by Grigori Baghiyan, Ministry of Agriculture, on 1 September 2010.

2.  Clause 2.1.14.1.2: this option can only be used for semen that was collected prior to 1 February 2009, i.e. prior to the date that the revised OAP came into force, as the revised OAP requires donor rams to be tested for Brucella ovis before they enter the semen collection centre.

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.'