The Bovine Semen (Scotland) Regulations 2007

PART 4 The collection, processing and storage of semen

Bovine animals from which semen may be collected

19.  No person may collect semen from a bovine animal for use in artificial insemination unless the bovine animal–

(a) is approved for that purpose by the Scottish Ministers;

(b) is identified in accordance with the cattle identification regulations;

(c) shows no clinical signs of disease on the day the semen is to be collected;

(d) has not been vaccinated against foot and mouth disease within the 30 days preceding the date of collection;

(e) has not been allowed to serve naturally since the date of the application for its approval for semen collection; and

(f) has, where its semen is to be supplied as fresh semen, been kept at an EC collection centre or a domestic collection centre for a continuous period of at least 30 days preceding the date the semen is collected.

Places where semen may be collected

20.—(1) No person may collect semen from a bovine animal except at–

(a) an EC collection centre;

(b) a domestic collection centre; or

(c) unlicensed premises,

in accordance with these Regulations.

(2) Such centres or unlicensed premises must–

(a) have been free from foot and mouth disease for at least three months prior to collection of the semen;

(b) be 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 the preceding 30 days; and

(c) have been, for 30 days prior to collection of the semen, free from the bovine diseases listed in Annex E(I) to Directive 64/432/EEC.

Use of teaser animals

21.  No person may use a teaser animal to assist in the collection of semen unless it is approved for that purpose by the Scottish Ministers.

Entry of bovine animals to EC quarantine centres, EC collection centres, domestic collection centres or to unlicensed premises

22.—(1) No person may introduce a bovine animal into–

(a) an EC quarantine centre;

(b) an EC collection centre; or

(c) a domestic collection centre,

without the authorisation of the centre veterinarian.

(2) The centre veterinarian may not authorise a bovine animal to enter an EC quarantine centre unless, prior to its entry to the centre, it always belonged to a herd–

(a) officially tuberculosis free; and

(b) officially brucellosis free,

in accordance with Directive 64/432/EEC.

(3) The centre veterinarian may not authorise a bovine animal to enter an EC collection centre unless the requirements of Part 1 of Schedule 8 are met.

(4) The centre veterinarian may not authorise a bovine animal to enter a domestic collection centre unless the requirements of Part 1 or 2 of Schedule 8 are met.

(5) The operator of unlicensed premises may not collect semen from a bovine animal on unlicensed premises unless the requirements of Part 1 or 2 of Schedule 8 are met.

(6) The centre veterinarian of an EC collection centre or domestic collection centre, or the operator of unlicensed premises, may not admit bovine animals unless on the day of movement the premises of origin–

(a) are 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 the preceding 30 days;

(b) have, for at least the preceding 3 months, been free from foot and mouth disease and brucellosis; and

(c) have, for at least the preceding 30 days, been free from those bovine diseases listed in Annex E(I) to Directive 64/432/EEC.

(7) The centre veterinarian or the operator of unlicensed premises may not authorise the admission of any bovine animal which shows any clinical sign of disease on the day of the proposed admission.

Movement of bovine animals

23.—(1) No person may move a bovine animal to an EC collection centre, a domestic collection centre or to unlicensed premises except–

(a) in means of transport that have been cleansed and disinfected before use in accordance with the Transport of Animals (Cleansing and Disinfection) (Scotland) Regulations 2005(1); and

(b) under conditions that ensure that the bovine animal does not come into contact with cloven hoofed animals that are not authorised to enter the centre or premises of destination.

(2) No person may move a bovine animal from one collection centre to one in another member State except in accordance with Directive 64/432/EEC.

Processing of semen

24.  No person may process semen except at–

(a) an EC collection centre; or

(b) a domestic collection centre.

Instruments for collecting and processing semen

25.  No person may–

(a) use any instrument (other than a single use instrument) which comes into contact with semen or with the donor animal during collection or processing unless such instrument has been disinfected or sterilised prior to use; or

(b) re use a single use instrument.

Containers for storing or moving semen

26.  No person may store or move semen except in a container used exclusively for that purpose that–

(a) has been disinfected or sterilised prior to use; or

(b) is a single use container that has not been used before.

Storing and moving semen

27.  No person storing or moving semen may allow it to come into contact with material of animal origin (including other germplasm) of a lower health status.

Supply of frozen semen

28.—(1) This regulation does not apply to the steps necessary to move semen to an EC storage centre or a domestic storage centre.

(2) No person may supply frozen semen or use it in artificial insemination unless it has been stored–

(a) at an EC storage centre;

(b) at a domestic storage centre; or

(c) in another part of the United Kingdom on premises approved by the competent authority for the storage of bovine semen.

Power of Scottish Ministers to grant exemptions

29.  No person may supply or use semen for artificial insemination if that person knows or suspects that it has not been collected, processed or stored–

(a) in accordance with these Regulations;

(b) lawfully in another part of the United Kingdom; or

(c) in the case of semen originating in another member State or in a third country, in accordance with the Directive,

unless the supply or use is authorised by the Scottish Ministers.

Intra-Community trade in semen

30.—(1) No person may supply semen for intra Community trade unless–

(a) it was–

(i) collected, processed and quarantined at an EC collection centre; and

(ii) stored at an EC storage centre; or

(b) in the case of semen supplied from another member State or imported from a third country in accordance with the Directive, it has been stored at an EC storage centre.

(2) Any person who supplies semen for intra Community trade must ensure that it is accompanied by the animal health certificate referred to in Articles 3(d) and 6(1) of the Directive.

Duties to keep records of the supply of semen

31.—(1) This regulation does not apply to the operators of unlicensed premises or to centre veterinarians who are subject to regulation 14.

(2) Any person who supplies semen must keep a record of the information specified in Schedule 9, paragraph 1.

(3) Any person who receives semen must keep a record of the information specified in Schedule 9, paragraph 2.

(4) Any person who uses semen for artificial insemination must keep a record of the information specified in Schedule 9, paragraph 3, in relation to each straw or other receptacle used.

(5) Any person who destroys semen must keep a record of the information specified in Schedule 9, paragraph 4, in relation to each straw or other receptacle destroyed.

(6) Any person who is required by this regulation to keep records must ensure that the records are made contemporaneously with the supply, receipt, use or destruction.

(7) Such records may be in written or electronic form and must be kept for at least two years after the supply, receipt, use, or destruction of the semen, as appropriate.

(1)

S.S.I. 2005/653.