PART 3 Measures applicable to processing facilities at an EC collection centre

1.  The centre veterinarian must ensure that–

(a) semen processed at the centre is–

(i) collected at an EC collection centre;

(ii) collected at a collection centre approved under the Directive in another part of the United Kingdom; or

(iii) from bovine animals which have been subjected to the tests specified in Schedule 2, paragraph 2(1);

(b) any semen referred to at sub paragraph (a)(iii) is–

(i) processed using separate equipment (which must be cleaned and sterilised after use) or at a different time from the processing of semen intended for intra Community trade; and

(ii) identified by a marking different from that required under sub paragraph (f);

(c) semen collected, processed and quarantined at EC collection centres and intended for intra Community trade does not come into contact with and is not stored in the same room as any other semen processed at the centre;

(d) products of animal origin used in the processing of semen, including additives and diluents, are obtained from sources which present no animal health risk or are so treated prior to use that such risk is removed;

(e) the cryogenic agent used has not been previously used for other products of animal origin;

(f) each individual dose of semen is sealed, numbered and clearly marked so that the following information can be readily established–

(i) the date the semen was collected;

(ii) the identity of the donor bovine animal under the cattle identification regulations;

(iii) the breed of the donor bovine animal; and

(iv) the licence number of the centre where the semen was collected (if applicable); and

(g) the format used for identifying semen is notified to the Scottish Ministers.

2.  The centre veterinarian may not admit semen not collected at the centre for processing unless it is accompanied by–

(a) the documents specified in regulation 14(4); and

(b) if the semen comes from unlicensed premises, the documents specified in Schedule 7, paragraph 1(c).

3.—(1) Subject to sub paragraph (2), the centre veterinarian must ensure that the antibiotics streptomycin, penicillin, lincomycin and spectinomycin are added to produce the following concentrations in the final diluted semen–

(a) not less than 500 μg streptomycin per ml final dilution;

(b) not less than 500 International Units penicillin per ml final dilution;

(c) not less than 150 μg lincomycin per ml final dilution; and

(d) not less than 300 μg spectinomycin per ml final dilution.

(2) An alternative combination of antibiotics which has an equivalent effect against campylobacters, leptospires and mycoplasmas may be used.

4.  The centre veterinarian must ensure that, immediately after the addition of antibiotics, the semen is kept at a temperature of at least 5ºC for a period of not less than 45 minutes.

PART 4 Measures applicable to semen quarantine at an EC collection centre

1.—(1) Prior to the initial dispatch of semen from bovine animals identified as serologically positive for BVD/MD, the centre veterinarian must ensure that a semen sample from each bovine animal is subjected to a virus isolation or virus antigen ELISA test for the BVD/MD virus.

(2) In the event of a positive result, the centre veterinarian must ensure that the bovine animal is removed from the collection centre and its semen destroyed.

2.  The centre veterinarian must ensure that frozen semen is kept in the semen quarantine facilities for at least 30 days before it leaves the centre.

3.  The centre veterinarian must not allow any semen to leave the centre unless the premises where it was collected remain clear of–

(a) foot and mouth disease; and

(b) the bovine diseases listed in Annex E(I) to Directive 64/432/EEC,

for 30 days after collection or, in the case of fresh semen, until the date of dispatch of the semen.

4.  With regard to a bovine animal that–

(a) did not belong to a herd officially free of enzootic bovine leukosis in accordance with Directive 64/432/EEC; or

(b) was produced by a dam which did not, after removal of the bovine animal from it, test negative to a test carried out in accordance with Annex D (Chapter II) to Directive 64/432/EEC,

the centre veterinarian must not allow its semen to leave the centre until the bovine animal has reached the age of two years and has tested negative for enzootic bovine leukosis, under a serological test carried out in accordance with the procedure described in Annex D (Chapter II) to Directive 64/432/EEC.

5.  With regard to a bovine animal vaccinated against foot and mouth more than 30 days before, but within 12 months of, a collection, the centre veterinarian must not allow its semen to leave the centre unless 5% (with a minimum of five straws) of each collection have tested negative to a virus isolation test for foot and mouth disease.

Regulation 16

SCHEDULE 4 Duties of the centre veterinarian in EC storage centres

1.  Subject to paragraph 2, the centre veterinarian must ensure that–

(a) only semen is stored at the centre;

(b) semen is only stored at the centre if it has not come into contact with any other semen and–

(i) it has been collected and processed at EC collection centres, or at centres otherwise approved for semen collection under the Directive; or

(ii) following collection and processing at EC collection centres or at centres otherwise approved for semen collection under the Directive, it has been stored at EC storage centres or at centres otherwise approved for semen storage under the Directive;

(c) the cryogenic agent used has not been previously used for other products of animal origin; and

(d) each individual dose of semen is sealed, numbered and clearly marked in such a way that the following information can be readily established–

(i) the date the semen was collected;

(ii) the identity of the donor bovine animal under the cattle identification regulations;

(iii) the breed of the donor bovine animal; and

(iv) the licence number of the centre where the semen was collected (if applicable).

2.  Notwithstanding paragraph 1(a), the centre veterinarian may store deep frozen embryos at the centre if–

(a) such storage is authorised by the Scottish Ministers;

(b) the embryos meet the requirements of Council Directive 89/556/EEC on animal health conditions governing intra Community trade in and importation from third countries of embryos of domestic animals of the bovine species(18) as amended from time to time;

(c) the centre complies with regulations 13, 14 and 15 of the Bovine Embryo (Collection, Production and Transfer) Regulations 1995(19); and

(d) the embryos are stored in separate storage containers from those containing semen.