CHAPTER III

Imports from third countries
Article 11
1
Member States shall ensure that each consignment of semen entering the customs territory of the Community is subjected to control before being released for free circulation or placed under a customs procedure and shall prohibit the introduction of the semen into the Community if the import control made on arrival reveals that:
- the semen does not come from the territory of a third country on the list drawn up in accordance with Article 7 (1),
- the semen does not come from a semen collection centre on the list provided for in Article 8 (1),
- the semen comes from the territory of a third country from which imports are prohibited in accordance with Article 15 (2),
- the animal health certificate which accompanies the semen is not in conformity with the conditions laid down in Article 10 and fixed pursuant thereto.
This paragraph shall not apply to consignments of semen which arrive in the customs territory of the Community and are placed under a customs transit procedure for consignment to a destination situated outside the said territory.
However, it shall be applicable where customs transit is waived during transport through the territory of the Community.
2
The Member State of destination may take the necessary measures, including storage in quarantine provided that this does not affect the viability of the semen, in order to obtain definite proof in cases where semen is suspected of being infected or contamined by pathogenic organisms.
3
If the admission of semen has been prohibited on any of the grounds set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 and the exporting third country does not authorize the return of the semen within 30 days in the case of deep-frozen semen, or immediately in the case of fresh semen, the competent veterinary authority of the Member State of destination may order it to be destroyed.