Regulation No. 1242 on animal health requirements for the production, storage, import and export of bull seed

The text of this Regulation consists of five Chapters: Purpose, scope and definitions (I); Production and storage of bull seed (II); Requirements for import and export of bull seed within the EEA (III); Requirements for import of bull seed from non-EEA countries (IV); and Other provisions (V). The purpose of the Regulation is to prevent the spread of infectious diseases in relation with bull seed used for artificial insemination. It contains rules disciplining the health conditions of animals used in the production of bull seed; the import and export of such seed within the EEA; and the import of such seed from countries outside the EEA. Article 4 of Chapter II stipulates that both the production and storage of bull seed shall take place in authorized semen collection centers that comply with the requirements specified in Chapter II. Moreover, the storage of bull seed can also take place in semen depots operated in accordance with the requirements set out in Chapter II. Articles 5-6a lay down requirements for the authorization and operation of semen collection centers and semen depots. Articles 7-9 lay down requirements relating to the selection and testing of animals in isolation. According to these articles, cattle shall be isolated for a period of 28 days before taken into semen collection centers and shall undergo a series of tests before and during the isolation period. Article 10 sets out requirements for the intake of animals to semen collection centers and requires, among other things, the authorization of the center s veterinarian and the keeping of records of all animals taken in and out of the center. Article 11 requires that cattle kept in semen collection centers undergo the tests listed in the same Article at least once a year. Article 12 lays down requirements for semen that is distributed from semen collection centers. Among others, the Article 12 requires that the semen consignment shall contain an antibiotic or combination of antibiotics that effectively prevents the growth of bacteria. Moreover, consignments of semen that is exported to countries within the EEA shall contain a minimum dilution of 500 IU/ml streptomycin, 500 IU/ml penicillin, 150 g/ml lincomycin, and 300 g/ml spectinomycin, or another antibiotic combination with similar effect against campylobacter, leptospires and mycoplasmas. Articles 13 and 14a of Chapter III lay down specific requirements for the imports and exports of bull seed within the EEA, including the information that shall be included in the accompanying animal health certificate. Article 15 of Chapter IV restricts the importation of bull seed from non-EEA countries to those listed in annex A and requires that seed originating from semen collection centers and semen depots located in non-EEA countries be authorized by competent authorities in that country and included on a list published by the European Commission. Articles 16 and 16a specifies the information that the accompanying animal health certificate for import of bull seed from non-EEA countries shall contain. Article 16c states that, notwithstanding the requirements of Articles 16 and 16a, bull semen from Canada may be imported to Norway if the requirements of the animal health certificate model contained in annex D are met and such health certificate accompanies the semen. Article 19 of Chapter V requires that all laboratory tests be performed in publicly approved laboratories.