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.

Information about the process required to import reproductive material into New Zealand can be found on the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries website. A guidance document is provided for importing cattle semen and embryos.

Note

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

Health certification

As importing country health requirements may change without advice to the Department you should check the import permit and/or the country’s website carefully at the time of preparation for export.

Health certificate

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

1. Animal Health Declaration
   
   
   1. 1.1 Australia is free from bovine brucellosis (B. abortus and B. melitensis), bovine herpes virus 1.1 and 1.2a, bovine viral diarrhoea virus 2, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, foot-and-mouth disease (without vaccination), lumpy skin disease, Rift Valley fever and bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis).
      
      
2. Embryo Collection, Processing and Storage
   
   
   1. 2.1 Embryos were collected, washed, processed, stored and traceability maintained under the supervision of an approved embryo collection team veterinarian and in accordance with current recommendations of the OIE Code and the current IETS manual and the other specified requirements in this veterinary certificate.
   2. 2.2 All straws were sealed, and clearly and permanently marked to identify the donor and the date(s) of freezing. The markings conform to international standards of the International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) and the IETS Manual. *If a code is used for this information, its decipher instructions accompany the consignment.
   3. 2.3 The embryos have only been stored and transported with germplasm that has been collected and processed in accordance with the OIE Code.
   4. 2.4 The embryos have only been held in a storage place approved by the Competent Authority of the exporting country until the time of export.
   
   
3. Donors
   
   
   1. 3.1 Were born and raised in Australia (or New Zealand).
      
   2. 3.2 The embryo donors were resident in the embryo collection herd for at least 28 days prior to embryo collection for export to New Zealand. While resident with the collection herd, the herd was not subject to veterinary restrictions for organisms managed in this veterinary certificate.
      
   3. 3.3 The donor animals were examined by the government approved embryo team veterinarian on the day of collection and there was no evidence of clinical signs of OIE listed diseases transmissible in germplasm.
   
   
4. Laboratory testing
   
   
   1. 4.1 All testing was performed in a National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accredited laboratory (if applicable).
      
   2. 4.2 All laboratory samples required by this veterinary certificate have been collected, processed, and stored in accordance with the OIE’s recommendations or as described in Approved Diagnostic Tests, Vaccines, Treatments and Post-Arrival Testing Laboratories for Animal Import Health Standards, MPI-STD-TVTL, found here https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/2040/
      
   4. 4.3 All diagnostic test(s) that are required have been approved by MPI for that purpose, administered according to manufacturer’s instruction and documented in MPI-STD-TVTL.
      
   
   
5. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR IDENTIFIED RISK ORGANISMS
   
   
   1. 5.1 Coxiella burnetii (Q-fever)
      
      
      1. (*Delete non applicable)
         5.1.1 The donor has never been confirmed positive for Q fever; AND EITHER:
      2. 5.1.2 Donors were subjected to a serological test listed in MPI-STD-TVTL for Q fever, on a sample collected between 21 and 120 days after each germplasm collection for export to New Zealand, with negative results; OR*
      3. 5.1.3 A sample of embryos/oocytes, collection fluids and/or washing fluids from each germplasm collection for export to New Zealand was tested for Q fever with a test listed in MPI-STD-TVTL, with negative results; OR*
      4. 5.1.4 Within the 6 month period before or after germplasm collection for New Zealand, but before export, the embryo collection herd was tested for Q fever, using a test listed in MPI-STD-TVTL, with negative results. The Q fever test must be:
         1. performed on either the whole herd or a random sample of at least 60 animals (whichever is the lesser number); AND
         2. the herd was isolated for the period between embryo collection and diagnostic sampling.
            
      
      
   2. 5.2 Mycoplasma bovis
      
      
      1. (*Delete non applicable)
         5.2.1. Collection and processing of embryos was in accordance with the recommendations of the OIE Code, except for:
         1. The embryos were subjected to the protocol described in the IETS Manual: tylosin (200 µg/mL) incubation at 37°C in the antibiotic treatment for a minimum of 4 hours after being washed 10 times; OR*
         2. The embryos were subjected to another MPI approved method of processing, listed in MPI-STD-TVTL; OR*
         3. The embryo donor was subjected to a test for M. bovis listed in MPI-STD-TVTL, with negative results; OR*
         4. Each embryo collection for export to New Zealand was tested with a validated test for M. bovis listed in MPI-STD-TVTL, with negative results.
            
      
      
   3. 5.3 Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjoprajitno (leptospirosis)
      
      
      1. (*Delete non applicable)
         5.3.1 Antibiotics must be added to germplasm in accordance with MPI-STD-TVTL; OR*
      2. 5.3.2 The donor must be serologically tested in accordance with MPI-STD-TVTL.
   
   
6. Storage and Transport
   
   
   1. (*Delete non applicable)
      6.1 The transport container in which the embryos are to be transported to New Zealand is new* or disinfected* and is free of contamination. The disinfectant used, its active chemical and date of disinfection is recorded in Attachment 1 of this zoosanitary certificate.
   2. 6.2 All transport containers in which the embryos are to be transported to New Zealand, was sealed either by the Australian government approved embryo team veterinarian or an official veterinarian, using tamper-evident seals that are positioned to ensure that no embryos can be added after the transport container has been sealed.
      *Where the germplasm is transferred from one transport container to another:
      1. Date of transfer ____________________________________________________________________________
         
      2. Name of approved collection centre/herd _________________________________________________
         
      3. Reason for transfer ________________________________________________________________________
         
      4. Name of veterinarian involved in the transfer ______________________________________________
         

Attachment

Bovine Embryos (frozen) from Australia to New Zealand

Embryo transfer veterinarian declaration

A declaration by the accredited embryo transfer veterinarian is required for assessment of this export.

This template (DOCX 45 KB | PDF 210 KB) provides the format for the Embryo Transfer Veterinarian declaration (ETVD) for the export of bovine embryos to New Zealand.

Based on importing country website and information. Protocol agreed 21 April 2022 .

Entry last reviewed 29 April 2022.