S.L. 437.102 Art. 2Interpretation. S.L. 437.38 S.L. 437.48 S.L. 437.98 S.L. 437.99 Cap. 437. S.L. 437.98 S.L. 437.48 S.L. 437.48 S.L. 437.48

(1) Unless stated otherwise in these rules, the definitions in the Act, those contained under the Veterinary and Zootechnical Checks applicable in Trade with Member States in certain Live Animals and Products Regulations, those contained under the Animal Health Problems Affecting Intra-Community Trade in

Bovine Animals and Swine Regulations, those contained under the Animal Health Requirements Governing Trade and Imports into the Community of Animals, Semen, Ova and Embryos not Subject to Animal Health Requirements laid down in Specific Community Acts, Rules and those contained under the Animal Health Conditions Applicable to Intra-Community Trade and Imports from Third Countries of Deep-Frozen Semen of Domestic Animals of the Bovine Species Rules shall apply as necessary.

(2) For the purpose of these rules and unless the context otherwise requires the following definitions shall apply: "the Act" means the Veterinary Services Act;

"animals of the porcine species" means porcine animals whose

*These rules have been repealed by Legal Notice 77 of 2025. †see rule 1(4) as originally promulgated. semen is subject to intra-Community trade and imports from third countries to be produced for use in artificial insemination; "approved laboratory" means a laboratory situated in Malta or a third country designated by the competent authority to carry out the tests laid down in these rules;

"authorisation" means any authorisation granted under these rules and in relation to authorised providers and services means a permit, licence, warrant, appointment, concession or any decision concerning access to a service activity or the exercise thereof; "authorised provider" has the same meaning as that provided under the Animal Health Requirements Governing Trade and Imports into the Community of Animals, Semen, Ova and Embryos not Subject to Animal Health Requirements laid down in Specific Community Acts, Rules; "centre veterinarian" means the veterinarian responsible for day-to-day compliance in the centre with the requirements laid down in these rules;

"checks at origin" means veterinary checks which are carried out on semen of domestic animals of the porcine species imported from third countries by the Member State of collection prior to their dispatch to the Member State of destination for the purpose of intra-Community trade;

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

"the Commission" means the European Commission; "the Community" means the European Community as established by the Treaty on the European Union as amended by subsequent treaties;

"the competent authority" means the department of veterinary services in Malta as established by article 3 of the Act;

"consignment" means a quantity of semen covered by a single certificate;

"country of collection" means the Member State or third country in which semen is collected and from which it is sent either directly from the third country of collection, or indirectly through a Member State to the Member State of destination; "the Director" means the Director General of the competent authority or any veterinarian officer nominated by him; "donor" means a domestic animal of the porcine species whose semen is used for artificial insemination; "final consumer" has the same meaning as that provided for under the Animal Health Requirements Governing Trade and Imports into the Community of Animals, Semen, Ova and Embryos not Subject to Animal Health Requirements laid down in Specific Community Acts, Rules; "health certificate" means a certificate properly issued by the competent authority in accordance with Schedule IV, as a means of guaranteeing and monitoring compliance with animal health requirements as regards animals and products of animal origin subject to trade for the purpose of these rules; "importation" means the importation of animals and their products from a third country into the Community for the purpose of intra-Community trade; "Member State" means a State which is a member to the European Union; "Member State of destination" means such Member State to which semen is transported either indirectly from the Member State of collection where the semen collection centre or establishment of origin is situated, or directly from a semen collection centre or storage of a third country; "official veterinarian" has the same meaning as that provided for under the Animal Health Requirements Governing Trade and Imports into the Community of Animals, Semen, Ova and Embryos not Subject to Animal Health Requirements laid down in Specific Community Acts, Rules; "pathogenic organisms" means bacteria which causes infectious diseases; "the product" means any product of animal origin subject to trade and trading purposes; "quarantine" means the voluntary or compulsory isolation of semen to contain the spread of hazardous or dangerous diseases; "semen" means the ejaculate of a domestic animal of the porcine species, in the unaltered state or prepared or diluted; "semen collection centre or centre" means an officially approved and supervised establishment situated in Malta, a member state or third country, in which semen is produced for use in artificial insemination; "Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health" or "the Committee" means a Committee made up of representatives of Member States named committee members, who assist and consult the Commission by delivering an Opinion regarding safety measures with respect to animal health issues to be then formally adopted by the Commission in accordance with the appropriate procedure. Such committee procedure covers the entire food supply chain, ranging from animal health issues on the farm to the product which arrives to the final consumer, therefore significantly enhancing its ability to target risks to health wherever they arise in the production of food; "third country" means a country which is not a member of the European Community; "trade" means intra-Community trade between Member States in animals and their products after being imported from a third country, a business or occupation to make profit or gain, particularly in wholesale or retail and includes dealings in a particular business activity; "the Treaty" means the Treaty on the European Union establishing the European Community as amended by the Lisbon Treaty of 2007; "veterinary checks" means veterinary checks or import controls carried out on semen imports from third countries via border inspection posts in accordance with the procedure laid down in terms of rule 15, provided that import controls between Member States shall be carried out in conformity to the procedure determined for veterinary checks in intra-Community trade as provided in rule 3(2) of the Animal Health Requirements

Governing Trade and Imports into the Community of Animals, Semen, Ova and Embryos not Subject to Animal Health Requirements laid down in Specific Community Acts, Rules.