Import of in vivo bovine embryos into India

Dated September 23, 2015 | Copy of | Notification No.sl04 |

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 3A of the Livestock Importation Act, 1898 the Central Government hereby directs that the import of in vivo bovine embryos into India shall be regulated in the manner laid down in the Schedule annexed to this notification and subject to the conditions-

SCHEDULE

(1) that import of in vivo bovine embryos shall be allowed only through the sea ports of Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai and airports of Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore as may be notified by the Government from time to time, where animal quarantine inspection facilities are available;

(2) that no import of bovine embryos shall be allowed into the country unless certified by a certificate of health in English language signed by an official veterinarian of the exporting country in which bovine embryos fulfill requirements and the requisite information is provided in the Form annexed to this notification.

FORM

(I) GENERAL INFORMATION

(II) Sanitary information:

The undersigned Official Veterinarian certifies that- (1) the country is free from Foot and mouth disease (Type C, SAT-1,2,3), Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, Lumpy skin disease and Rift valley fever.

(2) the donor dam- (a) shows no sign of disease on the day of collection. (b) satisfies the following requirements:

(i) Bovine tuberculosis (TB):

was kept in a Tuberculosis (TB) free country or zone since birth;

or

was kept in a Tuberculosis (TB) free herd and was subjected to a tuberculin test with negative results, performed within twenty one to sixty days after embryo collection; or was subjected to two tuberculin tests (with a gap of minimum sixty days between the tests), first test starting within twenty one days to sixty days after the embryo collection.

(ii) Trichomonosis:

was kept in a Trichomonosis free country since birth;

or

the semen used to fertilize the donor comes from a certified Trichomonosis free bull and the donor has never been subjected to natural breeding;

or

direct microscopic examination and culture of vaginal mucus for the presence of causative agent of Trichomonosis with negative result conducted within twenty one to sixty days after the embryo collection.

(iii) Paratuberculosis:

was kept in a Paratuberculosis free country since birth;

or

was subjected to Delayed Type Hypersensitivity Test (DTH) or Faecal Culture or Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) with negative result, within twenty one to sixty days after the embryo collection.

(iv) Schmallenberg virus infection:

was kept in a country where Schmallenberg virus infection has never been reported;

or

was subjected to a serological test Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) or Virus neutralization) with negative result, within twenty one to sixty days after the embryo collection.

(3) The embryos have been collected by technicians under the supervision of a veterinarian, who is certified embryo transfer practitioner by the Government or Embryo Transfer (ET) Society or Association following hygienic and aseptic precautions in accordance with recommendation of the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS).

(4) The embryos have been processed in a laboratory having effective protection against rodents and insects. No embryo of a lesser health status is processed at the same time. The laboratory is under the direct control of a veterinarian and regularly inspected by an official veterinarian.

(5) The embryo has been collected from donor which:-

a) at the time of collection is inspected by a veterinarian and confirmed to be free of contagious and infectious diseases transmissible to cattle.

b) was born and is continuously residing in the exporting country(name of the country);

or

was born in a country (name of the country) having equal or better animal health status than the exporting country(name of the country) and has been legally imported into the exporting country for over past six months.

(6) The embryos were held in liquid nitrogen for a minimum period of thirty days after collection.

(7) The semen used to inseminate donor animals is derived from a donor bull that meets all the requirements mentioned in the veterinary certificate for import of bovine semen into India.

(8) Zona pellucida of each embryo is examined over its entire surface area and found intact and free of adherent material and was washed and treated with Trypsin, according to World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Terrestrial Animal Health Code.

(9) The embryo collection, holding and freezing media are sterilized and free of microorganisms; and

(10) The embryos are stored in sterile straws in new or sterilized liquid nitrogen containers and under strict hygienic conditions at a storage place, approved by the veterinary administration.

(11) Straws are sealed at the time of freezing and labeled as per International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS) manual.

(12) Details of the tests performed on the donor (a copy of test results is to be attached):

  *No testing is necessary in respect of diseases for which freedom status has been certified.

Official Stamp:

Issued at __________ on ________

Name and address of Veterinarian

Signature: ____________________

(III) Post Import Requirements:

(1) On arrival, the consignment and the documents will be examined by the Regional or Quarantine Officer.

(2) On arrival into India, the samples may be collected for testing of diseases including Bovine Viral Diarrhoea, Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis and Brucellosis.

(3) In case, the documents and tests are not conforming to the requirements and the embryos are not as per World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) specifications, appropriate action shall be taken by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Government of India at the cost of importing agency

Sd/- (Rajbir Singh Rana) Jt. Secy.

S.O. 2656(E) F. No. 102-69/2007-Trade Issued by: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries) New Delhi