Ministerial Decree No. 172 regulating the implementation of Act of 15 January 1991, No. 30 on animal reproduction.

The Decree consists of 37 articles divided into the following Titles: Natural mounting (I); Artificial insemination (II); Embryos (III); Certification, collection and analysis of data relevant to inseminating interventions (IV); Surveillance and control (V); Import and export of animals and of reproduction material (VI); Final provisions (VII). The present Decree establishes the basic principles in matter of animal reproduction. It states the requirements of natural mounting centres in order to obtain the authorization by the competent authority of the region. As far as artificial insemination is concerned, the Decree draws a distinction between (a) production centres, in charge of the collection, preparation, control, packaging, preservation and distribution of semen; and (b) distribution centres, in charge of the preservation and re-distribution of semen and frozen embryos. On the basis of said distinction, different requirements are established for the issuance of the authorization. Title III deals with the requirements and obligations both of centres for the collection of embryos and of production centres, as well as conditions for the issuance of the relevant authorizations. All the interventions carried out in relation to natural mounting and to artificial insemination must be certified through the registration in a proper form containing the information established in article 28. The Decree makes provisions for the checks by the appropriate authorities, to be carried out with the aim of assessing the proper implementation of the legislation in force, the quality of semen and embryos, and the hygienic conditions of the different centres. The import and export of animals and reproduction material is subject to the requirements established in article 35.