It is the exporter's responsibility to ensure that the animal meets the importing country requirements.  Additional information to assist exporters with how to prepare reproductive material for export is available on the Department's website.

There are no agreed conditions for the export of cattle semen to Canada.

An import permit and health certificate are required.

Information about the process required to import reproductive material into Canada from Australia can be found on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website.

Email

cfia.nisc-cnsi.acia@canada.ca

Note

Where an importing country issues an import permit, the exporter must ensure the animal meets any requirements in the permit.

Health certification

I, Dr ………………………………………….., a duly authorised government veterinary officer, hereby certify that:

1. Australia is officially free of the following diseases:
   
   
• Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia
• Foot and mouth disease
  
• Lumpy skin disease
  
• Rift Valley fever
  
• Rinderpest
  
  
2. The donor bulls:
   
   EITHER:
   
   were kept in a Department approved semen centre located in a zone certified free from bluetongue, bovine ephemeral fever, Akabane and Aino virus for a minimum of sixty (60) consecutive days before commencement of, and during, collection of the semen.
   
   OR
   
   were tested on two occasions, the first test within 30 days prior to collection and the second test between 30 and 180 days after collection of semen, using the following tests:
   
   
• Akabane - Negative to a serum neutralisation test at 1:4 serum dilution.
• Bluetongue - Negative to a competitive ELISA (cELISA) test.
• Aino - Negative to a serum neutralisation test at a 1:10 serum dilution.
• Bovine ephemeral fever - Negative to a serum neutralisation test at a 1:10 serum dilution.
  
  
If collected on more than one occasion for this export, the donor bulls were tested as described above for the first tests, with all tests repeated at least every 60 days throughout the collection period, and 30 - 180 days after the final collection.

OR

were tested negative for Akabane, Aino, bluetongue, and bovine ephemeral fever by a virus isolation test or PCR on blood samples collected at the start and conclusion of, and at least every 7 days during the semen collection for this consignment.


3. Premises on which the donor animal(s) have resided, must not have been subject to any restriction / quarantine measure pertaining to animal diseases of concern for the importation of the species in question during the period of residency.
   
   
4. The animal(s) from which the exported germplasm was sourced must have been examined and found free from clinical evidence of communicable disease during every procedure related to the preparation and collection of germplasm.
   
   
5. The donor animal(s) have been continuously resident in the country or zone of origin for a minimum of six (6) months immediately prior to collection of the exported germplasm or the donor animal(s) must have been imported directly from Canada into the country in which the germplasm was collected.
   
   
6. The donor animal(s) must have been continuously resident on the approved collection facility for a minimum of thirty (30) days immediately preceding collection of the exported germplasm.
   
   
7. The donor sire has not been used for natural service for either a minimum of fourteen (14) days prior to and until completion of collection, or during the entire period of collection facility residency until the completion of collection, whichever period is longer.
   
   
8. The semen was collected from donors:
   
   EITHER:
   
   after 21 June 2011, and the semen collection centre(s) and the donor animal(s) of the semen for export to Canada must have met all requirements regarding the collection, processing, and storage of bovine semen according to the standards specified in the current OIE code.
   
   OR
   
   before 21 June 2011, and the semen collection centre(s) of origin at which the semen to be exported was collected and stored must be certified as licensed or registered by the Australian Department of Agriculture.
   
   
9. The exported germplasm must have been collected and processed at a facility under the supervision of a veterinarian designated for this purpose by the Department.
   
   
10. The germplasm presented for import into Canada must have been collected, processed and stored in a hygienic manner that prevented contamination with pathogenic microorganisms. All material with animal ingredients used in the processing of the germplasm must have been sourced and processed to prevent the introduction of pathogenic microorganisms. All equipment used to collect, handle, wash, freeze and store the germplasm presented for import into Canada must have been new, or sterilised prior to use.
    
    
11. Straws or ampules must contain germplasm from only one donor. The cryogenic or cooling agent used in the process must not have been used in association with any other product of animal origin. The straws or ampules must be sealed prior to the time of freezing.
    
    
12. The frozen germplasm presented for importation into Canada must have been stored in sterile ampules, straws or receptacles in sanitized liquid nitrogen containers at an approved storage place for a minimum period of thirty (30) days prior to export.
    
    
13. Semen presented for importation into Canada must be in individual receptacles or straws, each marked with the collection date, breed and identity of the donor and the identity of the semen collection centre.
    
    
14. The germplasm being presented for importation has not come into contact with any animals, products or equipment of a lesser zoosanitary health status during the entire required periods of residency, isolation, storage, transportation to the port of exportation.
    
    
15. Prior to export, the container in which the semen is to be transported was sealed by either the semen collection centre veterinarian or an Official Veterinarian, using seals bearing the marks: xxxx
    
    Serial number of Shipping Tank:
    

Attachment to health certificate

ATTACHMENT TO ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATE FOR EXPORT OF BOVINE SEMEN FROM AUSTRALIA TO CANADA

Centre veterinarian declaration

A declaration by the Artificial Insemination Centre (AIC) veterinarian is required for assessment of this export.

This template (DOCX 40 KB | PDF 240 KB) provides the format for the Centre veterinarian declaration (CVD) for the export of cattle semen to Canada.

Transport requirements

The importing country may have specific transport requirements and you should check this.

Conditions can also be checked at Canada's Automated Import Reference System (AIRS).

Based on conditions included in an import permit issued by the Canadian authorities in 2021 and importing country website and information.

Entry last reviewed 13 October 2021.