S.I. No. 297/1994 - European Communities (Trade in Bovine Breeding Animals, Their Semen, Ova and Embryos) Regulations, 1994

Type Statutory Instrument
Publication 1994-09-20
Last updated 1996-04-23
State Repealed superseded text
Text As published
articles 27

This is the act as published. Later amendments are not folded into the text below: each one is a separate act in this repository and an entry in this law's history.

1 amending act · 1996-04-23, S.I. No. 112/1996 - European Communities (Trade in Bovine Breeding Animlas, Their Semen,O…

Reform history JSON API

S.I. No. 297 of 1994.

EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (TRADE IN BOVINE BREEDING ANIMALS, THEIR SEMEN, OVA AND EMBRYOS) REGULATIONS, 1994.

I, JOE WALSH, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 3 of the European Communities Act, 1972 (No. 27 of 1972), and for the purpose of giving effect to Council Directive No. 77/504/EEC of 25 July 1977^(1) (as amended by Council Directive 91/174/EEC of 25 March 1991^(2)), Commission Decision 84/247/EEC of 27 April 1984^(3), Commission Decision 84/419/EEC of 19 July 1984^(4), Commission Decision 86/130/EEC of 11 March 1986^(5), (as amended by Commission Decision 94/515/EC of 27 July 1994^(6), Commission Decision 86/404/EEC of 29 July 1986^(7), Council Directive 87/328/EEC of 18 June 1987^(8), Commission Decision 88/124/EEC of 21 January 1988^(9), Council Directive 88/407/EEC of 14 June 1988^(10) (as amended by Council Directive 90/120/EEC of 5 March 1990^(11)), Council Directive 89/556/EEC of 25 September 1989^(12), Council Directive 93/52/EEC of 24 June 1993^(13), Council Directive 93/60/EEC of 30 June 1993^(14) and Commission Decision 94/113/EC of 8 February 1994^(15), hereby make the following regulations:

^(1)O.J No. L206, 12.8.77, p.8

^(2)O.J No. L85, 5.4.91, p.37

^(3)O.J No. L125, 12.5.84, p.58

^(4)O.J No. L206, 5.9.84, p.12

^(5)O.J No. L101, 17.4.86, p.37

^(6)O.J No. L207, 10.8.94, p.30

^(7)O.J No. L233, 20.8.86, p.19

^(8)O.J No. L167, 26.6.87, p.54

^(9)O.J No. L62, 8.3.88, p.32

^(10)O.J No. L194, 22.7.88, p.10

^(11)O.J No. L71, 17.3.90, p.37

^(12)O.J No. L302, 19.10.89, p.1

^(13)O.J No. L175, 19.7.93, p.21

^(14)O.J No. L186, 28.7.93, p.28

^(15)O.J No. L53, 24.2.94, p.23

PART I *Preliminary*

1 Citation

1.

1. These Regulations may be cited as the European Communities (Trade in Bovine Breeding Animals, their Semen, Ova and Embryos) Regulations, 1994.

2 Interpretation

2.

2. (1) In these Regulations, save where the context otherwise requires—

"animal health certificate" means a certificate in which the health status of animals, semen, ova or embryos is certified for the purposes of these Regulations by an official veterinarian issuing the certificate;

"approval" means an approval granted under Regulation 6 by the Minister or a competent authority designated under Regulation 5 for the purposes of these Regulations and the Directives and Decisions;

"approved" means approved by the Minister or a competent authority designated under Regulation 5 for the purposes of these Regulations and the Directives and Decisions;

"approved for breeding" means breeding animals or the semen, ova and embryos of such animals approved for breeding;

"approved laboratory" means a laboratory approved to carry out the analytical or diagnostic tests required under these Regulations;

"application for approval" means an application to the Minister or a competent authority designated under Regulation 5 in respect of an approval in relation to any of the matters specified in Regulation 6 (2) for the purposes of these Regulations and the Directives and Decisions;

"authorised officer" means a person appointed by the Minister to be an authorised officer under Regulation 24 or an officer of Customs and Excise;

"breeding animal" means a bovine animal including buffalo used for breeding;

"breeders' organisation or association" means a breeders' organisation or association which establishes and maintains a herd book for pure-bred breeding animals;

"centre veterinarian" means a veterinarian responsible for the day-to-day supervision of a semen collection centre;

"collection of semen" means a quantity of semen taken from a donor animal at any one time;

"consignment of embryos" means a quantity of embryos removed in one operation from a single donor animal, and covered by the appropriate animal health and zootechnical certificates;

"consignment of semen" means a quantity of semen from a donor animal, which is accompanied by the appropriate animal health and zootechnical certificate;

"Council Directive 64/432/EEC" means Council Directive 64/432/EEC of 26 June, 1964^(16);

^(16)O.J No. L121 of 29.7.64 p.1.

"Council Directive 88/407/EEC" means Council Directive 88/407/EEC of 14 June, 1988^(10);

^(10)O.J No. L194, 22.7.88, p.10

"the Directives and Decisions" means Council Directive No. 77/504/EEC of 25 July 1977^(1) (as amended by Council Directive 91/174/EEC of 25 March 1991^(2)), Commission Decision 84/247/EEC of 27 April 1984^(3), Commission Decision 84/419/EEC of 19 July 1984^(4), Commission Decision 86/130/EEC of 11 March 1986^(5), (as amended by Commission Decision 94/515/EC of 27 July 1994^(6)), Commission Decision 86/404/EEC of 29 July 1986^(7), Council Directive 87/328/EEC of 18 June 1987^(8), Commission Decision 88/124/EEC of 21 January 1988^(9), Council Directive 88/407/EEC of 14 June 1988^(10) (as amended by Council Directive 90/120/EEC of 5 March 1990^(11)), and Council Directive 89/556/EEC of 25 September 1989^(12), Council Directive 93/52/EEC of 24 June 1993^(13), Council Directive 93/60/EEC of 30 June 1993^(14) and Commission Decision 94/113/EC of 8 February 1994^(15), or any one or more of those Directives and Decisions as the case may be;

^(1)O.J No. L206, 12.8.77, p.8

^(2)O.J No. L85, 5.4.91, p.37

^(3)O.J No. L125, 12.5.84, p.58

^(4)O.J No. L206, 5.9.84, p.12

^(5)O.J No. L101, 17.4.86, p.37

^(6)O.J No. L207, 10.8.94, p.30

^(7)O.J No. L233, 20.8.86, p.19

^(8)O.J No. L167, 26.6.87, p.54

^(9)O.J No. L62, 8.3.88, p.32

^(10)O.J No. L194, 22.7.88, p.10

^(11)O.J No. L71, 17.3.90, p.37

^(12)O.J No. L302, 19.10.89, p.1

^(13)O.J No. L175, 19.7.93, p.21

^(14)O.J No. L186, 28.7.93, p.28

^(15)O.J No. L53, 24.2.94, p.23

"embryo" means an ovum that has been fertilised and is in the initial stage of development while it is suitable for being transferred to a recipient bovine dam;

"herd book" means any book, register, file or data medium—

( a ) which is maintained by a breeders' organisation or association, and

( b ) in which pure-bred breeding animals are entered or registered with mention of their ancestors;

"intra-Community trade" means trade between Member States;

"Member State" means a Member State of the European Communities;

"the Minister" means the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry;

"official veterinarian" means a registered veterinary surgeon, within the meaning of section 1 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, 1931 (No. 36 of 1931), appointed by the Minister for the purposes of these Regulations;

"officer of Customs and Excise" has the same meaning as in the Customs Act, 1956 (No. 7 of 1956);

"ova/embryo collection centre" means an establishment in which ova or embryos (or both) from breeding animals are collected for use in artificial insemination;

"ova/embryo collection or production team" means a group of technicians supervised by a team veterinarian, approved to perform in vitro fertilization, the collection, processing and storage of ova or embryos of breeding animals;

"pure-bred breeding animal" means a pure-bred breeding animal entered in the main section of a herd book whose parents and grandparents are entered in a herd book of the same breed;

"semen" means the prepared or diluted ejaculate of a breeding animal;

"semen collection centre" means an establishment in which semen from breeding animals is collected from bulls for use in artificial insemination;

"team veterinarian" means the veterinarian responsible for the supervision of an ova/embryo collection team;

"testing or genetic evaluation" means the testing or genetic evaluation of breeding animals for the purpose of assessing their genetic merit for the purposes of these Regulations and the Directives and Decisions;

"third country" means a country or territory which is not a Member State;

"trade" includes domestic trade and imports and exports;

"working day" means any day other than—

( a ) Saturday or Sunday, or

( b ) a public holiday within the meaning of the Holidays (Employees) Act, 1973 (No. 25 of 1973);

"zootechnical certificate" means a certificate giving the identity, ancestry, blood type, and performance or progeny test results as required by these Regulations issued by a person designated by the Minister.

( a ) a reference to a Regulation or a Schedule is to a Regulation of, or a Schedule to, these Regulations,

( b ) a reference to a paragraph or a subparagraph is a reference to a paragraph or subparagraph of the Regulation or Schedule in which the reference occurs.

3 Scope of Regulations

3.

3. (1) These Regulations apply to trade in, and approval for breeding of, breeding animals, their semen, ova and embryos, excluding embryos derived by transfer of nuclei.

4 Competent Authority

4.

4. For the purposes of these Regulations and the Directives and Decisions the Minister shall be the competent authority in the State.

5 Designation of other competent authorities

5.

5. (1) Notwithstanding Regulation 4, the Minister may designate any other person, for such period as he sees fit and specifies in the designation, also to be a competent authority, subject to any limitations or conditions as he decides, to grant approvals in relation to any or all of the matters referred to in these Regulations.

PART II *Approvals*

6 ..

6.

6. (1) Subject to these Regulations, the Minister may grant an approval to a person for the purposes of these Regulations and the Directives and Decisions in relation to any of the matters specified in paragraph (2) if he is satisfied that the Directives and Decisions will be complied with.

( a ) a breeders' organisation or association in accordance with Regulation 7,

( b ) a laboratory to carry out the blood typing, analytical or diagnostic tests in accordance with Regulation 8,

( c ) the testing or genetic evaluation or both of breeding animals in accordance with Regulation 9,

( d ) a centre veterinarian in accordance with Regulation 10,

( e ) a semen collection centre in accordance with Regulation 11,

( f ) an ova/embryo collection or production centre or an ova/embryo collection or production team in accordance with Regulation 12,

( g ) breeding animals, semen, ova and embryos for breeding purposes in accordance with Regulation 13,

( h ) a scientific and educational research programme involving trade in semen, ova or embryos in accordance with Regulation 14.

( a ) be submitted in writing by the applicant to the Minister,

( b ) be legible and state the name and address of the applicant and where the applicant is a body corporate its principal place of business,

( c ) be accompanied by the fee determined in accordance with Regulation 25, and

( d ) be addressed to—

The Officer in Charge,

Livestock Breeding Division (Cattle),

Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry,

Farnham Street,

Cavan,

or to such other person or address as the Minister may direct and as published in at least 2 daily newspapers published and circulating in the State.

( a ) revoke an approval, or

( b ) refuse an application for approval, or

( c ) amend a condition to an approval,

without—

( d ) notifying the holder of, or applicant for, the approval of his intention to revoke the approval or refuse the application, or amend the condition, as the case may be,

( e ) specifying his reasons for the intended revocation or refusal of the approval, or amendment of the condition, and

( f ) affording the holder of, or applicant for, the approval the opportunity of making representations or having representations made on his behalf to the Minister in relation to the proposed revocation or refusal or amendment of the condition, as the case may be, within 14 days of the receipt by that person of the notification referred to in subparagraph (d) and having had regard to any such representations.

7 Breeders' Organisations and Associations

7.

7. (1) A person shall not carry on the activities or any of the activities of a breeders' organisation or association or hold himself out as carrying on such activities unless he is the holder of an approval in respect of such breeders' organisation or association.

( a ) the applicant for the approval has met the conditions specified in Schedule A, and

( b ) the approval does not endanger the preservation of the breed or jeopardise the zootechnical programme of existing breeders' organisations or associations for the same breed.

8 Approved Laboratory

8.

8. (1) A laboratory designated by the Minister which in the opinion of the Minister is suitably qualified immediately before the commencement of these Regulations, shall be deemed to be approved to carry out blood typing, analytical or diagnostic tests for the purposes of these Regulations and the Directives and Decisions.

9 Testing, Genetic Evaluation or publication of evaluation results

9.

9. (1) A person who is not the holder of an approval in respect of testing, genetic evaluation or publication of evaluation results shall not purport to be the holder of such an approval.

10 Centre Veterinarian

10.

10. (1) A person shall not be employed or engaged as, or operate or represent himself to be, a centre veterinarian unless he is the holder of an approval relating to the centre at which he is so employed or engaged, or so operates, or so represents himself, as the case may be.

11 Semen Collection Centres

11.

11. (1) A person shall not engage in the activities or any of the activities of a semen collection centre unless he is the holder of an approval in respect of that centre.

( a ) the conditions for the approval of semen collection centres as specified in Schedule D,

( b ) the conditions relating to the supervision of approved semen collection centres as specified in Schedule E,

( c ) the conditions applying to the movement of animals into approved semen collection centres as specified in Schedule F,

( d ) the routine tests and treatment which shall be applied to all bovine animals in an approved semen collection centre as specified in Schedule G, and

( e ) any analysis required under Schedules D to G to be carried out in approved laboratories.

12 Ova/Embryo Collection or Production Team

12.

12. (1) A person shall not carry on the activities or any of the activities of an ova/embryo collection or production team except under and in accordance with an approval.

( a ) the conditions for the approval of an embryo collection or production team as specified in Schedule H,

( b ) the conditions relating to the collection, processing, storage and transport of embryos as specified in Schedule I, and

( c ) the conditions applying to donor animals specified in Schedule J.

13 Breeding animals, semen, ova and embryos for breeding purposes

13.

13. A person shall not use—

( a ) a breeding animal for breeding purposes unless the animal complies with the conditions specified in Part I of Schedule Q,

( b ) semen for artificial insemination or fertilisation unless such semen has been approved pursuant to an application for such approval made in accordance with Part II (1) of Schedule Q and complies with the applicable conditions specified in Part II (2) of Schedule Q, or

( c ) ova or embryos of breeding animals for breeding purposes unless such ova or embryos (as the case may be) comply with the conditions specified in Part III of Schedule Q.

14 Scientific and Educational Research Programme

14.

14. (1) A person shall not carry out a scientific and educational research programme involving trade in semen, ova or embryos except in accordance with an approval.

15 Offence

15.

15. A person who contravenes any provision of this Part shall be guilty of an offence.

PART III *Trade*

16 ..

16.

16. A person shall not trade in pure-bred breeding animals or in semen, ova and embryo of breeding animals except under and in accordance with these Regulations.

17 ..

17.

17. The consignee in the State of pure-bred breeding animals, semen, ova or embryos which are to be imported into the State shall report at least 2 working days in advance of such importation to an officer of the Minister at—

Livestock Breeding Division (Cattle),

Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry,

Farnham Street,

Cavan.

or to such other person or address as the Minister may direct and as published in at least two daily newspapers published and circulating in the State, stating—

( a ) the nature of the consignment and giving any details required by an officer of the Minister,

( b ) the name and address of the establishment to which it is being consigned,

( c ) the anticipated arrival date, and

( d ) in the case of third country imports, their point of entry into the State.

18 ..

18.

18. Imports of breeding animals, semen, ova, or embryos from third countries may only enter the State at approved entry points.

19 ..

19.

19. Semen, ova, or embryos which are imported into the State, may only be consigned to approved semen or ova/embryo collection centres, as appropriate.

20 ..

20.

20. A person shall not trade in pure-bred breeding animals, semen, ova or embryos unless, such animals, semen, ova or embryos are approved for breeding and the following veterinary and zootechnical requirements in relation to trade in the State or with another Member State or with a third country (as the case may be) are complied with:

Pure-bred breeding animals shall:—

( a ) meet the veterinary requirements specified in the European Communities (Diseases of Animals Acts, 1966 and 1979, Orders) (General Authorisations for Imports) Regulations, 1985 ( S.I. No. 365 of 1985 ),

( b ) in relation to exports to other Member States, meet the animal health conditions specified in Council Directive 64/432/EEC, as amended,

( c ) in relation to imports from and exports to another Member State or third country be accompanied by a zootechnical certificate conforming with the model or the alternative specified in Schedule K,

( d ) in the case of imports from third countries be accompanied by proof that the animal is either entered or is eligible for entry in a herd book of a Member State.

( a ) Semen of breeding animals shall—

( b ) The requirements set down in subparagraph (a) (v) and (vi) shall not apply in respect of semen of breeding animals which, prior to their first routine vaccination at the insemination centre, reacted negatively to the tests referred to in paragraph 1 (e) (IV) of Schedule F. However, the semen of animals given emergency vaccinations following an outbreak of IBR must pass a virus isolation test. In which case at least 10 per cent of each collection of semen (with a minimum of five straws) must be examined. These examinations may by bilateral agreement, be carried out either in the country of collection or in the country of destination.

( c ) The Minister shall not oppose the admission from another Member State of semen from bulls vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease. However, where the semen was obtained from a bull which was vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease during the 12 month period prior to collection up to 5 per cent of the semen from each collection (with a minimum of five straws) intended for import with the State shall be subjected in an approved laboratory in a Member State or a laboratory designated by the Minister to a new isolation test for foot-and-mouth disease, with negative results.

( d ) Semen of breeding animals for importation into the State from a third country shall:

( a ) Embryos of breeding animals shall—

( b ) Embryos of breeding animals for importation into the State from third countries shall—

( c ) Only frozen embryos may be imported from third countries where vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease is practised. The embryos shall be stored under approved conditions from a minimum of 30 days before consignment. Donor animals shall come from a holding in which no animal has been vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease the period of 30 days prior to collection, and which is not subject to any prohibition or quarantine measures.

( d ) The provisions of Commission Decision 94/113/EEC shall not apply to embryos collected, processed and stored before 1 March, 1994.

If a documentary check reveals that any requirement of this Regulation has not been met, or if for any other reason an officer of the Minister suspects that the animals, semen, ova or embryos may be infected or contaminated by pathogenic organisms, that officer may take the necessary measures, including the storage of such animals, semen, ova or embryos in quarantine, to satisfy himself regarding their actual status.

21 ..

21.

21. The veterinary and zootechnical requirements specified in Regulation 20 shall not apply to consignments of breeding animals or products to which these Regulations apply which arrive in the customs territory of the State and are placed under a customs transit procedure for consignment to a destination situated outside the territory of the European Communities.

22 ..

22.

22. In the case of trade in semen in the State a declaration as specified in Schedule R may be substituted for the zootechnical and veterinary certificates referred to in Regulation 20 (b) above required to accompany semen.

23 ..

23.

23. A person who contravenes any provision of this Part shall be guilty of an offence.

PART IV *Miscellaneous Provisions*

24 Powers of Authorised Officers

24.

24. (1) The Minister may appoint in writing such and so many persons as he thinks fit to be authorised officers for the purposes of all or any of the provisions of these Regulations.

( a ) at all reasonable times enter and search any premises or place, including any land, vehicle, wagon, vessel, aircraft or other means of transport where he reasonably suspects that any breeding animals or their products or any thing the subject of these Regulations is being used, collected, stored, sold, packaged, transported, imported or exported or any establishment in respect of which an application for an approval under these Regulations has been made to the Minister,

( b ) there or at any other place, carry out such examinations, tests, checks and inspections of the premises or place and any equipment, machinery or plant thereat and any animal, product or thing found thereat as he reasonably considers necessary or expedient for the proposes of his functions under these Regulations,

( c ) take, without payment, such samples of any substance or, if the authorised officer is an official veterinarian, take from any animal a sample, at the premises or place as he may reasonably require for the purposes of such functions and carry out or have carried out on the samples such examination checks and inspections according with any relevant provisions of these Regulations as he considers necessary or expedient for the purposes of such functions,

( d ) require any person at the premises or place or the owner or person in charge thereof and any person employed in connection therewith to give him such information and to produce to him such books, documents and other records within the power or procurement of the person as he may reasonably require for the purposes of such functions,

( e ) examine and take copies of, or extracts from, any such records as aforesaid,

( f ) seize or detain any breeding animals, semen, ova or embryos including any container in which semen, ova or embryos are kept which he reasonably believes have been produced or imported or to be intended for export in contravention of these Regulations,

( g ) if accompanied by a member of the Garda Síochána stop any vehicle which he reasonably suspects to contain any breeding animals, their semen, ova or embryos the subject of these Regulations.

( a ) evidence of or relating to the commission or intended commission of an offence under these Regulations is to be found in any premises,

( b ) there is or was any product or thing the subject of these Regulations in any premises, or

( c ) a document directly or indirectly connected with any product or thing the subject of these Regulations is in the possession or control of a person in any premises,

such judge may issue a search warrant.

( a ) tampers with any breeding animal, product or thing the subject of these Regulations so that a sample of it taken under these Regulations does not accurately represent the aforementioned breeding animal, product, or thing, or

( b ) tampers or interferes with any sample taken under these Regulations, shall be guilty of an offence.

( a ) require anything specified in the notice to be done by the person to whom the notice is directed before the breeding animal, product or thing the subject of these Regulations is released by an authorised officer, or

( b ) either—

the manner of disposal in either case being such as to prevent the breeding animal, product or thing the subject of these Regulations, being exported, imported or used in contravention of these Regulations, and where a notice under this paragraph requires a specified thing to be done, an authorised officer may retain control of the breeding animal, product or thing the subject of these Regulations to which the notice relates until the requirements of the notice have been complied with.

( a ) Where an appeal is brought under paragraph (12), the District Court shall make such order as it considers just (including an order directing that the breeding animal, product or thing the subject of these Regulations be disposed of, at the expense of the owner, in such manner as it may specify).

( b ) The cost of disposal by an authorised officer under this Regulation or pursuant to an order of the District Court under this Regulation shall be recoverable by the Minister by whom it is incurred as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction from the person who was the owner of the breeding animal, product or thing the subject of these Regulations at the time of its seizure and detention under these Regulations.

( a ) in the case where there is an appeal to the District Court against the notice, the appeal and any appeal therefrom has been determined, or

( b ) in any other case, the period during which such an appeal may be brought has expired.

( b ) For the purposes of subparagraph (a) the breeding animal, product or thing the subject of these Regulations shall be deemed to be situated in a district court district as if it is situated on a premises which is situated wholly or partly in such district.

25 Fees

25.

25. (1) There may be charged by the Minister such fees in respect of any or all of the applications for approvals, blood typing, analytical or diagnostic tests and testing or genetic evaluations processed or carried out in connection with these Regulations as the Minister, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, from time to time, may determine.

26 Proceedings for Offences

26.

26. (1) A person guilty of an offence under these Regulations shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £1,000.

27 Revocations and continuance of approvals and authorised officers

27.

27. (1) The Regulations of 1993 and the European Communities (Trade in Bovine Breeding Animals, their Semen, Ova and Embryos) (Amendment) Regulations, 1994 ( S.I. No. 152 of 1994 ), are hereby revoked.

SCHEDULE A CONDITIONS FOR APPROVAL OF BREEDERS' ORGANISATIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS

Regulation 7.

In order to be approved, a breeders' organisation or association shall:

1.

Have legal personality

2.

Prove to the Minister or another competent authority designated under Regulations 5:

( a ) that it operates efficiently;

( b ) that it can carry out the checks necessary for recording pedigrees;

( c ) that it has a sufficiently large herd to carry out a breed improvement programme or that it has a sufficiently large herd to preserve the breed where this is considered necessary; and

( d ) that it can make use of the livestock performance data necessary for carrying out its breed improvement or preservation programme.

3.

Have a set of rules covering:

( a ) the definition of the breed's characteristics;

( b ) the system for identifying animals;

( c ) the system for recording pedigrees;

( d ) the definition of its breeding objectives;

( e ) the systems for making use of livestock performance data;

( f ) the division of the herd-book, if there are different conditions for entering animals or if there are different procedures for classifying the animals entered in the book; and

4.

Have rules of procedure, adopted in accordance with its articles of association, laying down, in particular, the principle of non-discrimination between the members of the breeders' organisation or association concerned.

SCHEDULE B CONDITIONS FOR ENTERING CATTLE IN HERD-BOOKS

Regulation 7.

1.

To qualify for entry in the main section of the herd-book of its breed an animal shall:

( a ) be descended from parents and grandparents entered in a herd-book of that same breed,

( b ) be identified at birth according to the rules of that herd book, and

( c ) have a pedigree established in accordance with the rules of that herd-book.

2.

The main section of a herd-book may be divided into several classes according to the animals' merits. Only cattle meeting the criteria laid down in paragraph 1 may be entered in one of those classes. Where a herd book contains several classes in the main section, an animal from another Member State shall be entered in the class of the book whose criteria it meets.

3.

A Breeders' organisation or association may decide that a female, which does not meet the criteria laid down in paragraph 1 may be entered in a supplementary section of that herd-book. In such case the female shall—

( a ) be identified in accordance with the herd-book rules,

( b ) be judged to conform to the breed standard, and

( c ) have a minimum performance criteria as laid down by the herd-book rules.

The requirements mentioned in subparagraphs (b) and (c) may be differentiated according to whether the female belongs to the breed although it has no known origin or was obtained from a crossing programme approved by the breeders' organisation or association managing the herd-book.

4.

A bovine female whose mother and maternal grandmother are entered in a supplementary section of the herd-book as provided for in paragraph 3 and whose father and two grandfathers are entered in the main section of the herd book in accordance with the criteria laid down in paragraph 1 above, shall be regarded as a pure-bred female and entered in the main section of the herd-book, provided for in paragraph 1.

SCHEDULE C CONDITIONS FOR GRANTING APPROVAL TO CARRY OUT TESTING, GENETIC EVALUATION OR PUBLICATION OF EVALUATION RESULTS

Regulation 9.

PART I

A person carrying out testing, genetic evaluation or publication of evaluation results—

( a ) shall have adequate resources, facilities and staff, and where necessary commercial industry support, co-operation and involvement to ensure complete, unbiased and accurate evaluations of animals,

( b ) shall ensure that all animals involved in testing or genetic evaluation are properly identified and that complete and accurate records (being open to inspection at all reasonable times by an authorised officer) are kept as required by the Minister or another competent authority designated under Regulation 5,

( c ) shall give an account of the recording methods, the model of performance description, the statistical method af analysis and the genetic parameters used for each evaluated trait.

( d ) shall enable all aspects of the testing or evaluation to be under the effective supervision of the Minister or another designated competent authority.

PART II

In accordance with Commission Decision 86/130/EEC of 11 March, 1986, as amended by Commission Decision 94/515/EC of 27 July, 1994 an account of the recording methods, the model of performance description, the statistical method of analysis and the genetic parameters used for each evaluated trait shall be given and shall also comply with the following:

I. PERFORMANCE RECORDING

All data must be recorded under the responsibility of the approved body.

1.

Beef production traits

( a ) Individual performance and/or progeny testing at a station

—conditions for acceptance into the station,

—if applicable, the on-farm performance of the test animals prior to entry into the station,

—identity of the owner of the test animals for individual performance testing,

—maximum age for the test animals entering the station and the age of range of contemporary animals on the station,

—length of adaptation and test periods at the station,

—type of diet and system of feeding.

Specialised units can operate as stations under the responsibility of the approved body.

( b ) Testing in the field (on-farm)

The test method and the method to validate test results must be provided by the approved body. The minimum traits to be recorded include live weight and age and, if available, other traits such as beef conformation.

( c ) Testing through survey data from farms and points of sale and slaughter

If available and appropriate the live and slaughter weights, sales prices, carcass grade according to the community carcass classification scheme, meat quality and other beef traits must be recorded.

2.

Milk Recording

Recording milk production data must comply with the principles agreed by competent international bodies (e.g. International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR)).

3.

Reproduction (secondary traits)

When fertility, calving aptitude and longevity are being evaluated, they must be assesed on the basis of data on fertilization (e.g. non-return rate), calving score and on functional age (e.g. stayability, culling age, length of productive life), respectively.

4.

Morphological (type) assessment

When Morphological rating is carried out, it must be done using an approved recording system.

II. GENETIC EVALUATION

1.

Principles

The genetic evaluation of breeding animals must be carried out under the responsibility of the approved body and must include the following performance traits according to the selection objectives:

—milk production traits for animals of dairy breeds

—beef production traits for animals of beef breeds

—milk and beef production traits for dual purpose breeds

Furthermore, it is recommended that the genetic evaluation should also include the traits of reproductive performance and of morphology for breeds in which recording of these traits is being practised.

The breeding value of an animal is calculated on the basis of the results of the performance of the individual and/or of its relatives.

The statistical methods applied in genetic evaluation must comply with the principles agreed by competent international bodies (e.g. ICAR) and should guarantee a genetic evaluation unbiased from the influences of the main environmental factors and data structures.

The reliability of the genetic evaluation must be measured as the coefficient of determination in accordance with principles agreed by competent international bodies (e.g. ICAR). When publishing the evaluation results, the reliability as well as the date of evaluation must be given.

Genetic peculiarities and genetic defects of an animal defined by the bodies officially appointed for the determination of these characters, in agreement with the breeders organisations or associations, recognized in conformity with Commission Decision 84/247/EEC of 27 April, 1984 laying down the criteria for the recognition of breeders organizations and associations which maintain or establish herd-books for pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species (^1), have to be published.

^(1) O.J No. L 125 12.5. 1984. p.58

The bulls must be subjected to a genetic evaluation on compulsory traits and breeding values on them must be published. Other available breeding values also must be published.

These provisions do not apply to breeds threatened with extinction.

( a ) Genetic evaluation of arterial insemination bulls for milk production traits

In the genetic evaluation of dairy traits, the milk yield and content (butterfat and protein percentage) as well as other available and relevant data for the genetic aptitude for dairy traits must be included.

The minimum reliability of the genetic evaluation of AI bulls of the dairy breeds must be at least 0.5 for the main production traits according to ICAR principles taking into account all information from relatives.

( b ) Genetic evaluation of artificial insemination bulls for beef production traits

The genetic evaluation of these bulls is carried out on the basis of one of the following performance testing methods:

If carcass weight and, where appropriate, traits of meat quality, growth performance and calving aptitude are being recorded, these traits as well as any other relevant trait must be included in the genetic evaluation of the bull.

SCHEDULE D CONDITIONS FOR THE APPROVAL OF SEMEN COLLECTION CENTRES

Regulation 11.

1.

Semen collection centres shall:

( a ) be placed under the permanent supervision of a centre veterinarian;

( b ) have at least—

( c ) be so constructed or isolated that contact with livestock outside is prevented;

( d ) be so constructed that the animal housing and the semen collecting, processing and storage facilities can be readily cleaned and disinfected;

( e ) have isolation accommodation which shall have no direct communication with the normal animal accommodation;

( f ) be so designed that the animal accommodation is physically separated from the semen processing room and both are separated from the semen storage room.

SCHEDULE E CONDITIONS RELATING TO THE SUPERVISION OF SEMEN COLLECTION CENTRES

Regulation 11.

1.

Semen collection centres shall:

( a ) be so supervised that they contain only animals of the species whose semen is to be collected. Other domestic animals which are strictly necessary for the normal operation of the collection centre may nonetheless also be admitted, provided that they present no risk of infection to those species whose semen is to be collected and they fulfil the conditions laid down by the centre veterinarian;

( b ) be so supervised that a record is kept of all bovine animals at the centre, giving details of the breed, date of birth and identification of each of the animals, and also a record of all checks for diseases and all vaccinations carried out, giving also information from the disease/health file of each animal;

( c ) be regularly inspected by an official veterinarian, at least twice a year, at which time standing checks on the conditions of approval and supervision shall be carried out;

( d ) be so supervised that the entry of unauthorised persons is prevented. Furthermore, authorised visitors shall be required to comply with the conditions laid down by the centre veterinarian;

( e ) employ technically competent staff suitably trained in disinfection procedures and hygiene techniques relevant to the control of the spread of disease; and

( f ) be so supervised that only semen collected at an approved semen collection centre is processed and stored in approved semen collection centres, without coming into contact with any other consignment of semen. However, semen not collected in an approved collection centre may be processed in approved semen collection centres provided that:

2.

Deep-frozen embryos may also be stored in approved semen collection centres provided that—

3.

Collection, processing and storage of semen shall take place only on the premises set aside for the purpose and under conditions of the strictest hygiene.

4.

All implements which come into contact with semen or the donor animal during collection and processing shall be properly disinfected or sterilised prior to use.

5.

Products of animal origin used in the processing of semen, including additives or a diluent, shall be obtained from sources which present no animal health risk or are so treated prior to use that such risk is prevented.

6.

Storage flasks and transport flasks shall be properly disinfected or sterilised before the commencement of each filling operation.

7.

The cryogenic agent used shall not have been previously used for other products of animal origin.

8.

Each individual dose of semen shall be clearly marked in such a way that the date of collection of the semen, the breed and identification of the donor animal, the name of the semen collection centre and the serological status of the donor animal in respect of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis and infectious pustular vulvo-vaginitis, possibly in code, can be readily established; the characteristics and form of this marking shall be established in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 19 of Council Directive 88/407/EEC.

SCHEDULE F CONDITIONS APPLYING TO THE MOVEMENT OF ANIMALS INTO APPROVED SEMEN COLLECTION CENTRES

Regulation 11.

1.

All bovine animals admitted to a semen collection centre shall:

( a ) have been subjected to a period of isolation of at least 30 days in accommodation specifically approved for the purpose by the Minister and where only other cloven-hoofed animals having at least the same health status are present;

( b ) prior to their stay in the isolation accommodation described in subparagraph (a), have belonged to a herd which is officially tuberculosis free and officially brucellosis free in accordance with Council Directive 64/432/EEC. The animals may not previously have been kept in one or more herds of a lower status;

( c ) have come from a herd free of enzootic bovine leukosis as defined in Council Directive 64/432/EEC, or have been produced by dams which have been subjected with negative results, to an Agar Gel immunodiffusion test carried out in accordance with Annex G of Council Directive 64/432/EEC, after removal of the animals from their dam. In the case of animals derived by embryo transfer, 'dam' means the recipient of the embryo. If this requirement cannot be fulfilled, the semen may not be the subject of trade until the donor had reached the age of two years and has been tested in accordance with Schedule G 1 (c) with a negative result;

( d ) before the period of isolation specified in (a), and within the previous 30 days, have been subjected to the following tests with negative results:

However the Minister may give authorisation for the tests referred to in subparagraph (d) to be carried out in the isolation accommodation, provided that the results are known before the commencement of the 30 day isolation period laid down in subparagraph (a);

( e ) during the period of isolation of at least 30 days specified in subparagraph (a), have been subjected to the following tests with negative results:

If any of the above tests should prove positive, the animal shall be removed forthwith from the isolation accommodation. In the case of group isolation, it will be necessary to re-establish the eligibility of the remaining animals for entry into the collection centre in accordance with this Schedule.

2.

All tests must be carried out in an approved laboratory.

3.

Animals may only be admitted to the semen collection centre with the express permission of the centre veterinarian. All movements, both in and out, must be recorded.

4.

No animal admitted to the semen collection centre may show any clinical sign of disease on the day of admission. All animals shall, without prejudice to paragraph 5, have come from isolation accommodation as referred to in paragraph 1 (a) which, on the day of consignment, officially fulfils the following conditions:

( a ) is situated in the centre of an area of 10 kilometres radius in which there has been no case of foot-and-mouth disease for at least 30 days;

( b ) has for at least three months been free from foot-and-mouth disease and brucellosis;

( c ) has for at least 30 days been free from those bovine diseases which are compulsorily notifiable in accordance with Annex E to Directive 64/432/EEC.

5.

Provided that the conditions laid down in paragraph 4 are satisfied and the routine tests referred to in Schedule G have been carried out during the previous 12 months, animals may be transferred from one approved semen collection centre to another of equal health status without isolation or testing if transfer is direct. The animal in question shall not come into direct or indirect contact with cloven-hoofed animals of a lower health status and the means of transport used shall have been disinfected before use. If the movement from one semen collection centre to another takes place between Member States it must take place in accordance with Directive 64/432/EEC.

6.

However, until 1 July, 1995 the Minister may admit to approved semen collection centres animals of the bovine species originating in herds which are free of brucellosis. In that case, the animals must, during the aforementioned period, be subjected to a complement fixation test showing a brucella count lower than 20 EEC units per millilitre (20 ICFT units) as provided for in paragraph (d) (ii) and (e) (i).

SCHEDULE G ROUTINE TESTS AND TREATMENT WHICH MUST BE APPLIED TO ALL BOVINE ANIMALS IN AN APPROVED SEMEN COLLECTION CENTRE

Regulation 11.

1.

All bovine animals kept at an approved semen collection centre shall be subjected at least once a year to the following tests and treatment:

( a ) an intradermal tuberculin test for tuberculosis, carried out in accordance with the procedure laid down in Annex B to Directive 64/432/EEC, with a negative result;

( b ) a serum agglutination test for brucellosis, carried out in accordance with the procedure laid down in Annex C to Council Directive 64/432/EEC, giving a count lower than 30 IU of agglutination per millilitre, or a complement fixation test showing a brucella count lower than 20 EEC units per millilitre (20 ICFT units)

( c ) a screening test for enzootic bovine leukosis, carried out in accordance with the procedure described in Annex G to Council Directive 64/432/EEC, with a negative result;

( d ) for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis/infectious pustular vulvo-vaginitis, a serum neutralization test or an Elisa test with a negative result. However,

—it is not necessary to carry out these tests on bulls which have already been subjected to such tests and have given a positive result to the serological test carried out in accordance with Directive 88/407/EEC as amended,

—vaccination against these diseases may be practised on sero-negative bulls, either with one dose of a temperature-sensitive live vaccine administered intranasally or two doses of an inactivated vaccine separated by an interval of not less than three weeks and not more than 4 weeks; the vaccination must be repeated subsequently at intervals of not more than 6 months.

( e ) either an immunofluorescent antibody test or a culture test for campylobacter foetus infection on a sample of preputial material or artificial vaginal washings; in the case of female animals a vaginal mucus agglutination test shall be carried out.

However, bulls which are not used for the production of semen may be exempt from the antibody test or a culture test for campylobacter foetus infection, with the proviso that such bulls may not be re-admitted to semen production until they have been subjected to such a test or culture and given a negative result.

2.

All tests must be carried out in an approved laboratory.

3.

If any of the above tests should prove positive, the animal shall be isolated and the semen collected from it since the last negative test may not be the subject of intra-Community trade.

Semen collected from all other animals at the centre since the date when the positive test was carried out shall be held in separate storage and may not be the subject of intra-Community trade until the health status of the centre has been re-established.

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