Goat embryos may only be exported to the European Union if collected in a centre by a team approved by DAFF specifically for this purpose.
Centres currently approved by DAFF that have provided permission for their details to be listed publically:
Other relevant information including the relevant EU Directives and general approval checklist can be found at the following link:http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/semen_ova/ovine/index_en.htm
Testing regimes
Disease tested for |
Timing |
Method of testing |
EU requirements re method of testing |
Bluetongue |
EITHER: | | |
|
• Animals were kept in a bluetongue virus-free country or zone for at least 60 days prior to, and during, collection of the ova/embryos for the consignment; OR |
No BT testing required | |
|
• Animals were kept protected from Culicoides for at least 60 days prior to, and during collection of the ova/embryos for the consignment; OR |
No BT testing required | |
|
• Serological tests for antibody between 21 and 60 days after collection of the ova/embryos for the consignment; OR |
cELISA or AGID |
Consistent with the OIE Manual |
|
• Agent identification test on the day of ova/embryo collection |
Virus isolation or PCR |
Consistent with the OIE Manual |
| | | |
EHD |
TWO serological tests not more than 12 months apart - one prior to collection and one no less than 21 days post collection of ova/embryos; AND |
AGID or cELISA |
"Standards for EHD virus diagnostic tests are described in the bluetongue chapter of the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals." |
|
TWO virus neutralisation tests not more than 12 months apart - one prior to collection and one no less than 21 days post collection of ova/embryos. |
Virus Neutralisation |
| | | |
*NB - embryos must be produced using semen that complies with Council Directive 92/65/EEC and Decision 2010/472 EU. See goat semen entry for testing requirements. Donor females must meet Directive 91/68/EEC.
Other Health Status Requirements
Prior to entering quarantine - from an officially brucellosis-free (B. melitensis) ovine or caprine holding as per Directive 91/68/EEC and have not been previously kept in a holding of a lower health status
Annex 1 to standard EU-approval checklist -Role of the team veterinarian - Embryos
As stipulated in EC Directives, approved embryo collection/production teams and storage centres must be under the
permanent supervision of a team veterinarian.
The scope of supervision of the team veterinarian must be indicated in the team's operations manual.
The team veterinarian or another specified member of staff must be responsible for:
Collection, processing and storage of embryos; alternatively, this may be done under the responsibility of the team veterinarian, one or more technicians who are competent and trained by the team veterinarian in methods and techniques of hygiene and in techniques and principles of disease control | |
Verifying the identity and health status of donor animals | |
Sanitary handling and surgery of donor animals | |
Disinfection and hygienic procedures | |
Ensuring staff are trained in appropriate disease control and laboratory techniques | |
Ensuring appropriate record keeping including: | |
The species, breed, date of birth and identification of each donor animal | |
The health history and all diagnostic tests and the results of treatments and vaccinations carried out on donor animals | |
Place and date of collecting, processing and storing of oocytes/ova/embryos | |
Identification of embryos (and details of destination if known) | |
Routine sample examination records | |
Ensuring the centre is inspected/audited twice yearly by the DAFF Biosecurity official vet | |
Ensuring that all instruments which come into contact with the embryos or the donor animal during collection and processing are disposable or properly disinfected or sterilised prior to use, | |
Ensuring that products of animal origin used in processing/storage - including additives or a diluent - are obtained from sources which present no animal health risk or are so treated prior to use that such risk is prevented. Media and solutions must be sterilised according to recommendations of the IETS manual. | |
Ensuring storage flasks are properly disinfected or sterilised before commencement of each filling operation | |
Ensuring that the cryogenic agent used has not been previously used for other products of animal origin | |
Ensuring routine samples of flushing fluids, washing fluids, disintegrate embryos etc are submitted for official examination for bacterial and viral contamination. | |
If the team veterinarian is not permanently present, the procedure for ensuring compliance with each of the above points must be detailed in the operations manual. If any of these tasks are not considered to be the team veterinarian's responsibility, the person responsible must be indicated in the operations manual, and the procedure for ensuring compliance must be detailed in the operations manual.
Operations Manual
All centres intending to become approved for export to the EU must submit an Operations Manual for assessment as part of the approval process.
