Annex

NOTE: Veterinary certificates are negotiated directly between relevant government authorities. In cases where a veterinary certificate has not been negotiated, this annex can be used as the basis for developing a suitable document.

1. New Caledonia is recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) as a foot and mouth disease (FMD) free country where vaccination is not practised, and meets the OIE Code Article definitions for country freedom from:

• rinderpest
• contagious bovine pleuropneumonia;
• lumpy skin disease
• Rift Valley fever.

2. Each female donor had been continually resident and free from any quarantine restrictions in New Caledonia for at least 90 days immediately prior to the first collection of embryos.

3. Approval of embryo collection team veterinarian for export to Australia

· Each female donor was inspected by the team veterinarian or an official veterinarian on each day that embryos were collected for this consignment and was found to be free from signs of infectious or contagious disease.

4. Bovine pestivirus

Prior to the export of this consignment of embryos each female donor gave a negative result to one of the following tests for bovine pestivirus:

• an antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on peripheral blood leucocytes
  

  or

• a virus isolation test on blood or serum.
  

  [The veterinary certificate must indicate the option that applies. The attached table must include dates of sampling for test, type of tests used, test results.]

5. Bovine tuberculosis is compulsorily notifiable in New Caledonia and:

• during the 180 days immediately prior to and during embryo collection, the herds in which each female donor resided were officially free from bovine tuberculosis as defined by OIE Code Article definitions.
  

  or

• during the 180 days immediately prior to embryo each female donor, and all in contact cattle, gave a negative result to a single intradermal bovine tuberculin test on 2 occasions 90 days apart.
  

  [The veterinary certificate must indicate the option that applies. The attached table must include dates of sampling for test, type of tests used, test results.]

6. The semen used to produce the embryos in this consignment was free from quarantine restrictions and complied with the minimum health standards for semen imported into New Caledonia.

7. All the embryos in this consignment were fertilised in vivo, collected, processed, identified, stored and transported in accordance with World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Code Appendix definitions, by an embryo collection team which met the Code conditions. The team was approved at the time of collection, by the government of New Caledonia, for the collection of embryos for export. The embryos were treated with trypsin during the washing process as described in the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS) Manual.

8. The embryos in this consignment were not subjected to micromanipulation involving breaching of the zonapellucida and all had intact zonapellucida at the time of storage

9. Storage at approved centre(s) or laboratory(ies)

From the time of collection until export, the reproductive material in this consignment was stored:

• in sealed containers (e.g. straws, ampoules or vials) and identified in a legible and non-erasable manner as specified in this veterinary certificate
• only with other embryos or semen collected for export to Australia, or of equivalent health status
• in a secure place within an approved centre or laboratory and under the direct supervision of the approved veterinarian(s), and
• in containers containing only new, unused liquid nitrogen.

10. Further processing or aggregation

For this reproductive material, either:

• After leaving the approved centre under seal in shipping containers (liquid nitrogen shippers/tanks), the reproductive material was NOT removed from sealed containers (e.g. straws, ampoules or vials) for further processing or removed from the shipping container(s) for aggregation with other reproductive material.
  

  or

• Reproductive material was shipped to another approved centre or laboratory under seal in shipping containers (liquid nitrogen shippers/tanks) and removed from sealed containers (e.g. straws, ampoules or vials) for further processing (e.g. sex sorting) or for aggregation:

- with other reproductive material collected for export to Australia, or of equivalent health status

- at an approved centre or laboratory and

- under the direct supervision of the approved veterinarian(s).

The date(s) of transfer between the approved centre(s) or laboratory(ies), reason for transfer(s) (e.g. for sex sorting), name(s) of the approved centre(s) or laboratory(ies) and the approved veterinarian(s) are listed against the shipping container/s on this certificate before departure from the approved centre or laboratory. The unique seal number of each shipping container is included in this documentation.

NOTE: For transfers to another approved centre or laboratory, the approved veterinarian must ensure the shipping containers are transferred under seal as described below:

Date of transfer...................................

Reason for transfer..................................................................................................................

Name of approved centre/laboratory...................................................................................................

Approved veterinarian(s)...........................................................................................................

Shipping container seal number(s).........................................................................................................

[The veterinary certificate must indicate the option that applies.]

11. Shipping containers (Liquid nitrogen shippers/tanks)

The shipping container was new

or

Prior to loading, the shipping container was emptied and inspected and any loose straws removed. The shipping container, including all surfaces in contact with the straws, ampoules or vials was then disinfected with one of the following disinfectants: 2% available chlorine (e.g. chlorine bleach), 2% Virkon, 2.4% Prevail or irradiated at 50 kGy.

Date of disinfection/ irradiation………………………………………………………...

Disinfectant used/ active ingredient…………………………………………………….

[The veterinary certificate must indicate the option that applies. For used shipping containers, the date of disinfection, the disinfectant used and its active chemical must be recorded on the health certificate.]

12. Official Government Seals

Under the direct supervision of an official veterinarian prior to export to Australia:

· the containers (e.g. straws, ampoules or vials) for reproductive material in this consignment were checked as being sealed.

· the identity of the reproductive material was checked prior to being placed into new, unused liquid nitrogen in a shipping container for export that was new or disinfected as specified in this veterinary certificate

· Only reproductive material that met Australian import conditions was added to the shipping container

· The shipping container was sealed with an official government seal and the number or mark on the seal recorded on the certificate.

Shipping container official government seal number…………………………………...............