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.

An import permit and export health certificate ar​e required.​

Information about the process required to import reproductive material into the United States of America (US) from Australia can be found on US Department of Agriculture website​.
Note

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

Exporters are advised that individual states may have additional import regulations. It is the exporter's responsibility to verify these conditions and to meet them. The exporter should contact the U.S. State veterinarian (State Regulations and Import Requirements)​​ of the destination state to determine the requirements.

Health certificate

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

1. 2. Animal Health Declaration
   
   
2. 2.1. Australia is free from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), surra, scrapie, contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, sheep and goat pox, and Brucella melitensis.
   
   
3. 2.2. Bovine tuberculosis and bovine brucellosis (B. abortus) are notifiable diseases in Australia.
   
   
4. 2.3. No cases of disease caused by Schmallenberg virus have been detected or reported in Australia.
   
   
5. 3. Semen Collection and Processing Centre
   
   
6. 3.1. The semen originates from a semen collection centre (SCC) approved by the Government of Australia. ​
   
   
   1. Name of the approved SCC veterinarian: …………………..……………….
      
      
   2. Name, address, and approval No of the SCC: ………………………………
      
      
7. ​​4. Donor males
   
   
8. 4.1 The donor sires were born, raised, and continuously resident in Australia or were part of Australia’s national herd for a minimum period of time. Paragraphs 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 describe how the United States defines “part of the national herd” and the length of time the animals must be part of the national herd.
   
   
9. 4.1.1. If the donors were imported from countries recognized by USDA as free of FMD, then these animals must have been free of any import quarantine restrictions and able to move freely within Australia's national herd for a minimum of 60 days prior to beginning the qualifications necessary for the collection of germplasm for export to the United States.
   
   
10. 4.1.2. If the donors were imported from a country not recognized by USDA as free of FMD, then the donor animals must have been free of any import quarantine restrictions and able to move freely within Australia's national herd for a minimum of 90 days prior to beginning the qualifications necessary for the collection of germplasm for export to the United States.
    
    
11. 4.2. During the 60 days prior to the collection of germplasm for export to the United States, no donor has been corralled, pastured, held, or otherwise had contact with other animals of lesser health status or under any restrictions which would make it ineligible for importation to the United States under APHIS’ regulations.
    
    
12. 4.3. During the 12 months prior to the collection of semen for export to the United States, there has been no reported or confirmed cases of bovine tuberculosis, bovine brucellosis (B. abortus), ovine brucellosis (B. ovis), bluetongue, Akabane, Aino, paratuberculosis, or contagious agalactia in the donor animal or on any premises the donors were located during that time.
    
    
13. In the three years prior to collection of semen for export to the United States, there was no reported or confirmed cases of maedi-visna (in the case of sheep only) or caprine arthritis/encephalitis (CAE) (in the case of goats only) in the donor animals or on any premises the donors were located during that time.
    
    
14. 4.5 The donors were kept in a SCC free from bovine tuberculosis and bovine brucellosis that only accepts animals from herds/flocks considered by the Australian Competent Authority to be free of TB/brucellosis, and showed no signs of bovine tuberculosis or brucellosis on the day of collection of the semen.
    
    
15. 5. Testing
    
    
16. 5.1. Tests of all donors shall be conducted in laboratories accredited by Australia’s National Association of Testing Authorities to ISO/IEC 17025.
    

1. The name and address of the laboratory(ies) are as follows: …………………………………………
   
   
2. 5.2. Arboviruses: The donor sires:
   
   
   1. 5.2.1 Bluetongue:
      
      
   2. 5.2.1.1 were kept in an SCC approved by Australia’s Competent Authority, located in Australia’s Bluetongue Virus Transmission-Free Zone for a minimum of 60 consecutive days before commencement of, and during, collection of the semen for export; OR
      
      
   3. 5.2.1.2 were tested negative on two occasions for bluetongue virus antibodies, the first test at or near the time of collection (within 30 days prior to collection), and the second test between 30 and 180 days after collection of the semen, to an agar gel immunodiffusion test or the competitive ELISA (cELISA) test; OR
      
      
   4. 5.2.1.3 were tested negative for bluetongue virus on blood samples collected at the start and conclusion of, and at least every 7 days for virus isolation or every 28 days for PCR, during semen collection for this consignment.
      
      
   5. 5.2.2 Akabane/Aino:
      
      
   6. 5.2.2.1 were tested on two occasions, the first test at or near the time of collection (within 30 days prior to collection), and the second test between 30 and 180 days after collection of the semen, using the following tests:
      Akabane - Negative to a serum neutralization test at 1:4 serum dilution.
      Aino - Negative to a serum neutralization test at a 1:10 serum dilution; OR
      
      
   7. 5.2.2.2 were tested negative for Akabane and Aino on blood samples collected at the start and conclusion of, and at least every 7 days for virus isolation or every 28 days for PCR, during semen collection for this consignment.
      
      
3. ​ 6. Storage and Transport
   
   
4. 6.1. All collection, processing, handling, and storage was according to the guidelines and standards of the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code, Chapter 4.7, Collection and Processing of Bovine, Small Ruminant and Porcine Semen. The SCC followed the guidelines Chapter 4.6, General Hygiene in Semen Collection and Processing Centers.
   
   
5. 6.2 The semen was collected and processed under the supervision of the Centre veterinarian in charge of the approved SCC and placed in individual ampules or straws which must be permanently marked with the name of the donor, his identification/registration number, and the date of collection. This information is included in the “Attachment to Veterinary Certificate”.
   
   
6. 6.3 Ruminant products used in commercial semen extenders were sourced from countries considered by USDA to be free from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) as listed in 9 CFR Part 94 and other official publications.
   
   
7. 6.4 The semen shipping container was examined by the Centre veterinarian and found empty of semen and any other biological material before use for this shipment. New liquid nitrogen has been used.
   
   
8. 6.5. The semen was maintained securely in the custody of the Centre Veterinarian until it was placed in the shipping container and sealed with Government of Australia seals.
   
   
   1. Seal No: #######​
      

Attachment to Veterinary Certificate​

Centre veterinarian declaration

A declaration by the centre veterinarian is required for assessment of this export.

This template (DOTX 56 KB | PDF 288 KB) ​​​​​​​provides the format for the Centre Veterinarian Declaration (CVD) for the export of ovine and caprine semen to the United States of America.

Based on a protocol agreed in February 2026.

Entry last reviewed 9 February 2026.​