
Article 1 
This Decision lays down a list of third countries or parts thereof from which Members States shall authorise imports into the Union of semen of domestic animals of the bovine species (semen).
It also lays down certification requirements for the imports of semen into the Union.
Article 2 

1. Member States shall authorise imports of semen provided that it complies with the following conditions:
(a) it comes from a third country or part thereof listed in Annex I;
(b) it comes from a semen collection or storage centre listed in accordance with Article 9(2) of Directive 88/407/EEC;
(c) it is accompanied by an animal health certificate drawn up in accordance with the following model animal health certificates set out in Part 1 of Annex II, and completed in accordance with the explanatory notes set out in Part 2 of that Annex:
((i)) Model 1 as set out in Section A, for semen collected, processed and stored in accordance with Directive 88/407/EEC, as amended by Directive 2003/43/EC, dispatched from a semen collection centre where the semen was collected;
((ii)) Model 2 as set out in Section B, for stocks of semen collected, processed and stored before 31 December 2004 in conformity with the provisions of Directive 88/407/EEC applying until 1 July 2004, and imported after 31 December 2004 in accordance with Article 2(2) of Directive 2003/43/EC, dispatched from a semen collection centre where the semen was collected;
((iii)) Model 3 as set out in Section C, for semen and stocks of semen referred to in (i) and (ii), dispatched from a semen storage centre;
(d) it complies with the requirements set out in the animal health certificates referred to in point (c).
2. Where specific animal health and certification conditions are laid down in bilateral agreements between the Union and third countries, those conditions shall apply instead of the conditions in paragraph 1.
Article 3 

1. The semen and stocks of semen referred to in Article 2 shall not be transported in the same container as other consignments of semen that:
(a) are not intended for introduction into the Union; or
(b) are of a lower health status.
2. During transport to the Union, semen and stocks of semen shall be placed in closed and sealed containers and the seal shall not be broken during transport.
Article 4 
Decision 2004/639/EC is repealed.
Article 5 
For a transitional period until 30 April 2012, Member States shall authorise imports of semen and stocks of semen from third countries which are accompanied by an animal health certificate issued not later than 31 March 2012 in accordance with the models set out in Annex II to Decision 2004/639/EC.
Article 6 
This Decision shall apply from 1 November 2011.
Article 7 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 20 September 2011.
For the Commission
John DALLI
Member of the Commission
ANNEX I
ISO Code Name of the third country Remarks
Description of the territory(if appropriate) Additional guarantees
AU Australia  The additional guarantees concerning testing set out in points II.5.4.1 and II.5.4.2 of the certificate in Section A of Part 1 of Annex II are compulsory.
CA Canada Territory as described in Part 1 of Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 206/2010. 
CH Switzerland  
CL Chile  
GL Greenland  
HR Croatia  
IS Iceland  
NZ New Zealand  
PM Saint Pierre and Miquelon  
US United States  The additional guarantee set out in point II.5.4.1 of the certificate in Section A of Part 1 of Annex II is compulsory.


ANNEX II
PART 1
SECTION A
SECTION B
SECTION C
PART 2 (a) 
If the Member State of destination requires additional certification requirements, attestations to certify that those requirements are fulfilled shall be also incorporated in the original form of the animal health certificate.
 (b) The original of the animal health certificate shall consist of a single sheet of paper, or, where more text is required, it must be in such a form that all sheets of paper required are part of an integrated whole and indivisible.
 (c) Where the model animal health certificate states that certain statements shall be kept as appropriate, statements which are not relevant, may be crossed out and initialled and stamped by the certifying officer, or completely deleted from certificate.
 (d) The animal health certificate shall be drawn up in at least one of the official languages of the Member State of the border inspection post of introduction of the consignment into the European Union and of the Member State of destination. However, those Member States may authorise the certificate to be drawn up in the official language of another Member State, and accompanied, if necessary, by an official translation.
 (e) If for the reasons of identification of the items of the consignment (schedule in Box I.28 of the model animal health certificates), additional sheets of paper are attached to the animal health certificate, those sheets of paper shall also be considered as forming part of the original of the animal health certificate by application of the signature and stamp of the certifying officer, on each of the pages.
 (f) When the animal health certificate, including additional schedules referred to in (e), comprises more than one page, each page shall be numbered (page number) of (total number of pages), at the end of the page and shall bear the certificate reference number designated by the competent authority on the top of the pages.
 (g) 
The colour of the signature and the stamp of the official veterinarian shall be different to that of the printing on the animal health certificate. This requirement also applies to stamps other than those embossed or watermarks.
 (h) The original of the animal health certificate must accompany the consignment until it reaches the border inspection post of introduction into the European Union.
 (i) The certificate reference number referred to in Box I.2 and Box II.a of the model animal health certificate must be issued by the competent authority of the exporting third country.
