Pig semen: intra-EU trade and imports

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 90/429/EEC - intra-Community trade in and imports of pig semen

SUMMARY

WHAT DOES THIS DIRECTIVE DO?

—	It lays down the animal health conditions for the trade in pig semen between EU countries and imports from elsewhere in the world.

—	Its aim is to reduce the risk of spreading animal diseases.

KEY POINTS

—	The semen must be from healthy domestic animals, and collected and processed in approved centres.

—	Special conditions apply to the collection, processing, storage and transport of the semen.

—	National authorities are responsible for ensuring the collection centres meet the necessary standards and are given a veterinary registration number.

—	Each consignment of semen must have an animal health certificate.

—	Imported semen may only come from authorised collection centres in non-EU countries on an approved list.

—	When considering placing a country on the approved list, the EU takes account of factors such as the general health of its livestock, its animal disease prevention rules and its ability to comply with the EU rules.

—	Imported semen must be accompanied by an animal health certificate. Each consignment is checked when it enters the EU before being transported to its destination.

—	An EU country expecting a consignment, either directly or indirectly, from outside Europe, must ban its import if the semen could pass on a contagious disease to EU animals.

—	European Commission vet experts, working with local authorities, may carry out on-the-spot checks in non-EU countries.

WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY?

It entered into force on 12 July 1990. EU countries had to incorporate it in national law by 31 December 1991.

BACKGROUND

Intra-EU trade in porcine animals

ACT

Council Directive 90/429/EEC of 26 June 1990 laying down the animal health requirements applicable to intra-Community trade in and imports of semen of domestic animals of the porcine species (OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, pp. 62–73)

Successive amendments to Directive 90/429/EEC have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED ACTS

Commission Implementing Decision 2012/137/EU of 1 March 2012 on imports into the Union of semen of domestic animals of the porcine species (notified under document C(2012) 1148) (OJ L 64, 3.3.2012, pp. 29–37)

last update 11.01.2016