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Annex

Veterinary health certification requirements for zoo bovid semen from approved countries

Effective 6 June 2023 to 9 May 2024

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. Semen collection premises for zoo bovid semen
    1.1. The donor animal was resident in an approved, licensed or registered zoo or wildlife park in the exporting country since birth or for at least 12 months immediately before collection, unless otherwise approved by the department.

    1.2. The premises of origin (zoo or wildlife park) provides separation from other animal populations, is under veterinary supervision and has a documented health monitoring program that would be effective in monitoring for the diseases of biosecurity concern identified in this certificate (e.g. post-mortem records for deceased animals; disease testing programs; etc.).
  2. General
    2.1. All semen for export to Australia meets all the conditions specified in this certificate.

    2.2. Where testing of semen is required, at least one sample from every ejaculate was assessed, unless otherwise directed by the department. Where multiple samples were tested, all returned the required result.

    2.3. The donor animal(s) was not under quarantine restriction for the collection period or the 90 days immediately prior.

    Note: A semen collection period (or ‘collection’) starts on the first day semen is collected from the donor and finishes on the last day semen is collected, up to a maximum of 30 days. (A new collection period may begin the day after and is required to meet conditions applicable to that new time frame).

    2.4. The donor animal(s) showed no signs of infectious or contagious disease during the collection period and for the thirty (30) days immediately after.
  3. Semen collection and processing
    3.1. The official veterinarian ensured the hygienic collection, handling and processing of the semen.

    3.2. Semen collection, handling and processing occurred at a registered zoo or wildlife park in the exporting country that meets the general risk measures for zoo semen as detailed in section (1) of this veterinary health certificate.

    3.3. Semen collection, handling and processing occurred using disinfected or sterilised implements.

    3.4. Semen processing occurred using products of animal origin, including additives or a diluent, that were obtained from sources which present no animal health risk or were treated prior to use such that the risk is managed, in accordance with requirements for bovine semen in the OIE Code (Article 4.7.7.1).

    3.5. The official veterinarian verified the permanent identification of the semen straws with the identification details of the donor and the date of collection or a code from which this information could be determined.
    The semen was not removed from containers for further processing or aggregation unless previously arranged with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
  4. Diagnostic testing
    4.1. The official veterinarian ensured that the donors were tested in accordance with all requirements in this certificate.

    4.2. The samples for diagnostic testing were collected by the official veterinarian or veterinarians approved by the Veterinary Authority for export certification.

    4.3. Tests for disease were carried out at a laboratory approved by the competent authority.

    4.4. The tests were conducted in accordance with the current OIE Manual for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals or were approved by the department.

    4.5. All disease testing results are tabulated, including donor identification, dates of sampling for test, type of tests used, test results and were verified by the official veterinarian and attached to this health certificate.

    Disease Attestation

  5. Bluetongue (BTV)
    Option ONE
    The donor animal was kept in a country free or seasonally free from BTV as recognised by Australia* for at least 60 days prior to, and at the time of, semen collection (and within the period the country is considered free from BTV).

    *Countries recognised as free from BTV or having seasonally free periods from BTV are listed in the approved country list.

    AND

    The donor animal was not vaccinated for bluetongue virus.

    OR

    The donor animal was vaccinated for bluetongue virus, and the vaccine was: inactivated, approved by the competent authority in the exporting country, and administered more than 60 days prior to semen collection.

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

    OR

    Option TWO
    Blood samples were drawn from the donor animal between 28 and 60 days immediately after the semen collection period finished. The blood samples gave negative results to the competitive ELISA for BTV antibodies.

    OR

    Blood samples were drawn from the donor animal on the first day, the last day, and at least every 7 days during the semen collection period. The blood samples gave negative results to a virus isolation test for BTV.

    OR

    Blood samples were drawn from the donor animal on the first day and the last day of the semen collection period. The blood samples gave negative results to an approved RT- PCR test for BTV.

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

  6. Bovine Tuberculosis
    Option ONE
    For 12 months immediately before collection, the donor animal did not reside on any premises where clinical, epidemiological or other evidence of bovine tuberculosis has occurred during the previous 5 years and the disease is compulsorily notifiable.

    AND

    The donor animal was subject to a test for bovine tuberculosis performed between 210 and 72 days immediately before semen collection, with negative results.

    The test was either a tuberculin skin test (TST) or comparative tuberculin skin test (CTST). The test was read 72 hours post-inoculation.

    OR

    The test was either a gamma interferon assay or serological test, as approved by the department, performed on a blood sample taken during this period.

    AND

    The donor animal was subject to a TST or CTST performed in the 30 days immediately before semen collection. The test was read 72 hours post-inoculation, with negative results.

    OR

    Option TWO
    For 12 months immediately before collection, the donor animal did not reside on any premises in the country of export where clinical, epidemiological or other evidence of bovine tuberculosis has occurred during the previous 3 years and the disease is compulsorily notifiable.

    AND

    For 12 months immediately before export the donor animal was part of a collection subject to a documented tuberculosis screening program. The screening program included:

    a. Diagnostic testing of the zoo bovids in the collection, performed at least annually, with negative results. The diagnostic tests must be of a type approved by the department (e.g., TST, CTST, approved gamma interferon, approved serological test).

    b. The collection was a ‘closed-herd’ during that time.

    c. The collection contained at least 4 zoo bovids.

    d. Full post-mortem investigations were conducted on any dead ungulate animals to determine the cause of death.

    Note: A ‘closed-herd’ in this context means that new animals susceptible to bovine tuberculosis were not introduced to the collection (including animals that were part of the collection for a time and were removed for a period prior to reintroduction).

    AND

    The donor animal was subject to a test for bovine tuberculosis, performed in the 30 days immediately before semen collection, with negative results. This test was separate to the herd screen program test.

    The test was either a TST or CTST. The test was read 72 hours post-inoculation. If the herd test was also a TST or CTST, then this second test was not performed within 42 days of the herd test.

    OR

    The test was a gamma interferon or serological test approved by the department, performed on a blood sample taken in the 30 days immediately before semen collection.

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

  7. Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (Type 2) (BVD2)
    Option ONE
    The semen was tested by a virus isolation or RT-PCR test approved by the department. The test was negative to BVD (BVD2 in the case of the RT-PCR).

    OR

    Option TWO
    On the last day of the semen collection period, a blood sample was drawn from the donor animal and tested by:

    A RT-PCR test or antigen ELISA test approved by the department. The test was negative to BVD (BVD2 in the case of the RT-PCR).

    AND

    An antibody ELISA test or VNT approved by the department. The test was negative to BVD.

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

  8. Brucellosis (Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis)
    Option ONE
    For 12 months immediately before semen collection or since birth the donor animal was continuously resident in a country where no clinical, epidemiological or other evidence of brucellosis (B. abortus or B. melitensis) has occurred in any species during the previous 2 years and the disease is compulsorily notifiable.

    OR

    Option TWO
    For 12 months immediately before semen collection or since birth the donor animal did not reside on any premises in the country of export where clinical, epidemiological or other evidence of brucellosis (B. abortus or B. melitensis) has occurred in any species during the previous 2 years and the disease is compulsorily notifiable.

    AND

    The donor animal was subjected to an approved ELISA or BBAT test for brucellosis (B. abortus or B. melitensis) within the 30 days immediately after collection. The test result was negative to brucella (B. abortus and B. melitensis).

    [The veterinary health certificate must indicate the option that applies].
  9. Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP)
    For 180 days immediately before semen collection the donor animal was continuously resident in a country where no clinical, epidemiological or other evidence of CCPP has occurred during the previous 12 months and the disease is compulsorily notifiable.
  10. Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)
    For 90 days immediately before collection, the donor animal resided in a country on the department’s FMD-free country list.

  11. Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (BoHV-1)
    Option ONE
    Since birth until the end of the semen collection period the donor animal was continuously resident in a country where no clinical, epidemiological or other evidence of BoHV-1 has occurred in any species during the previous 5 years and the disease is compulsorily notifiable.*

    *Use of this clause is limited to countries for which freedom from BoHV-1 has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

    OR

    Option TWO
    The semen was tested for BoHV-1 by RT-PCR in accordance with the OIE prescribed preparation and testing regime for semen as outlined in the OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, with negative results.

    OR

    Option THREE
    For 180 days immediately before the semen collection period the donor animal was continuously resident on premises where no clinical, epidemiological or other evidence of BoHV-1 has occurred during the previous 12 months.

    AND

    For 180 days immediately before the semen collection period the donor animal was part of a zoo collection subject to a documented BoHV-1 screening program. The screening program included:

    a. diagnostic testing of all zoo bovids in the collection, performed at least annually, with negative results. The diagnostic tests were of a type approved by the department.

    b. the collection was a ‘closed-herd’ during that time.

    c. the collection contained at least four (4) zoo bovids.

    Note: A ‘closed-herd’ in this context means that new animals susceptible to BoHV-1 were not introduced to the collection (including animals that were part of the collection for a time and were removed for a period prior to reintroduction).

    AND

    The donor animal was tested by the screening program during this time.

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

  12. Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD)
    For 180 days immediately before semen collection the donor animal was continuously resident in a country on the department’s LSD-free country list.
  13. Malignant Catarrhal Fever (Wildebeest Associated)
    The donor animal is not a member of the genus Connochaetes.
  14. Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR)
    Since birth the donor animal was continuously resident in a country where no clinical, epidemiological or other evidence of PPR has occurred during the previous 2 years and the disease is compulsorily notifiable.
  15. Rift Valley Fever (RVF)
    For 90 days immediately prior to collection the donor animal was continuously resident in a country where no clinical, epidemiological or other evidence of RVF has occurred in any species during the previous 10 years and the disease is compulsorily notifiable.
  16. Schmallenberg Virus (SBV)
    Option ONE
    For 30 days immediately prior to collection the donor animal was continuously resident in a country where no clinical, epidemiological or other evidence of SBV has previously occurred, and the disease is compulsorily notifiable.

    OR

    Option TWO
    The donor animal tested seronegative to SBV between 28 and 90 days after semen collection, by a virus neutralisation test or ELISA test, approved by the department.

    OR

    Option THREE
    The semen for export was tested by a qRT-PCR method approved by the department, with negative results.

    OR

    Option FOUR
    The semen was collected before 1 June 2011.

    [The veterinary health certificate must indicate the option that applies].
  17. Vesicular Stomatitis (VS)
    During the 30 days immediately prior to collection of the semen there were no clinical signs or other evidence of vesicular stomatitis at the premises of origin and the disease is compulsorily notifiable.
  18. Storage and transport
    18.1. From the time of chilling/freezing until export, the reproductive material in this consignment was kept in sealed sterile containers (e.g. straws, ampoules or vials) and code marked in line with the international standards of the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR).

    18.2. From the time of chilling/freezing until export, the reproductive material in this consignment was stored and transported:
    only with other zoo bovid semen collected for export to Australia, or of equivalent health status.

    OR

    with other export certified germplasm eligible for export to Australia.
    18.3. All germplasm containers were:

    18.3.1. intact and there were no damaged or broken straws, ampoules or vials in the shipping container.

    18.3.2. kept in a secure place within an approved centre or laboratory and under the supervision of the Official Veterinarian

    18.3.3. stored and transported in storage or shipping containers containing only new, unused liquid nitrogen

    18.3.4. stored for at least 30 days.

  19. Shipping Containers (Liquid nitrogen shippers/Tanks)
    The shipping container was new.

    OR

    Immediately 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 or irradiated at 50 kGy.

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

    Note: For used shipping containers, the date of disinfection, the disinfectant used and its active chemical must be recorded on the health certificate.

  20. Official Government Seals
    20.1. Under the supervision of an Official Veterinarian prior to export to Australia:

    20.1.1. the identity of the semen 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 health certificate.

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

    20.2. Only zoo bovid semen that met Australian import conditions was included in the shipping container.

    20.3. An official government seal was applied by an Official Veterinarian to the shipping container and the number or mark on the seal was recorded on the certificate.