S.L. 437.102 Art. 9Conditionsrelating to semen from a third country.

(1) Semen shall come from animals which, immediately prior to collection of their semen, have remained for at least six months in the third country on the list drawn up in accordance with rule 7(1).

(2) Without prejudice to sub-rule (1) and rule 7(1), the competent authority shall not authorise the importation of semen from a third country on the list, unless the semen complies with the animal health requirements adopted for imports of semen from that country, in accordance with the procedure laid down in the definition "Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health" provided under rule 2(2).

(3) In adopting the requirements referred to in the preceding sub-rule, special account shall be given to:

(a) the health situation in the area surrounding the semen collection centre, with particular reference to the diseases appearing on list A of the International Office of Epizootic Diseases;

(b) the state of health of the herd in the semen collection centre, including testing requirements;

(c) the state of health of the donor animal and testing requirements; and

(d) the testing requirements in relation to semen.

(4) The reference basis for fixing animal health conditions shall be the standards laid down in rules 4, 5 and 6 and their corresponding Schedules. The competent authority may, on a case-by-case basis, decide to waive these conditions in accordance with the procedure and requirements of the Standing Committee on Food Chain and Animal Health, where the third country concerned provides similar animal health guarantees which are at least equivalent.