The Bovine Semen (England) Regulations 2007

Regulation 16

SCHEDULE 5 Measures applicable to a domestic collection centre

PART 1 Records of enzootic bovine leukosis and marking of semen doses

1.—(1) The centre veterinarian must make a record of a bovine animal admitted 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.

(2) The centre veterinarian must pass a copy of any record made under sub-paragraph (1) to the centre veterinarian of any collection centre to which the bovine animals or their semen may move, not later than the date of such move.

2.  The centre veterinarian must ensure that each individual dose of semen collected at the centre is clearly marked in such a way that the following information can be readily established—

(a) the date the semen was collected;

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

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

(d) the licence number of the centre.

PART 2 Routine tests and treatment which must be applied to all bovine animals in domestic collection centres

1.  The centre veterinarian must ensure that all bovine animals kept at a domestic collection centre must be subjected at least once a year to the following tests—

(a) for bovine tuberculosis, an intradermal tuberculin test, carried out in accordance with the procedure laid down in Annex B to Directive 64/432/EEC;

(b) for bovine brucellosis, a serological test carried out in accordance with the procedure described in Annex C to Directive 64/432/EEC; and

(c) for enzootic bovine leukosis, a serological test carried out in accordance with the procedure described in Annex D (Chapter II) to Directive 64/432/EEC.

2.—(1) If any of the above tests is positive, the centre veterinarian must ensure that the bovine animal is isolated and the semen collected from it since the last negative test is destroyed.

(2) The centre veterinarian must ensure that—

(a) semen collected from all other bovine animals at the centre since the date when the positive test was carried out is held in separate storage; and

(b) such semen is not used or supplied until the health status of the centre has been restored to the level required by the Directive and these Regulations.

PART 3 Measures applicable to processing at a domestic collection centre

1.  The centre veterinarian must ensure that—

(a) semen processed at the centre is semen collected—

(i) at an EC collection centre;

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

(iii) at a domestic collection centre;

(iv) at unlicensed premises in accordance with these Regulations; or

(v) lawfully in another part of the United Kingdom.

(b) semen is not stored with semen of a different health status and semen must be identifiable by a marking different from that used in EC collection or storage centres for semen for intra-Community trade.

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

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

(e) 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).

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 with an equivalent effect against campylobacters, leptospires and mycoplasms 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 a domestic collection centre

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

2.  The centre veterinarian must not allow any semen to leave the domestic collection 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.

3.  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.

4.  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.