COMMISSION  
COMMISSION DECISION  
of 30 November 2009  
on importation of semen of domestic animals of the porcine species into the Community as regards 
lists of third countries and of semen collection centres, and certification requirements  
(notified under document C(2009) 9354)  
(Text with EEA relevance)  
(2009/893/EC)  
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,  
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Community,  
Having regard to Council Directive 90/429/EEC of 26 June 
1990 laying down the animal health requirements applicable 
to intra-Community trade in and imports of semen of 
domestic animals of the porcine species (  1 ), and in particular 
Article 7(1), Article 8(1), Article 9(2) and (3) and 
Article 10(2) thereof,  
Whereas:  
(1) Directive 90/429/EEC lays down the animal health 
conditions applicable to intra-Community trade in and 
imports from third countries of semen of domestic 
animals of the porcine species. It provides that Member 
States may authorise importation of such semen only 
from those third countries which appear on a list 
drawn up in accordance with the procedure laid down 
therein. Directive 90/429/EEC also provides that, under 
the same procedure, a list is to be drawn up of approved 
semen collection centres from which Member States may 
authorise the importation of semen originating in those 
third countries.  (2) In addition, Directive 90/429/EEC provides that 
consignments of semen are to be accompanied by an 
animal health certificate, the model of which must 
correspond to a specimen drawn up in accordance 
with that Directive.  
(3) Commission Decision 2002/613/EC of 19 July 2002 
laying down the importation conditions of semen of 
domestic animals of the porcine species (  2 ) sets out a 
list of third countries from which Member States are to 
authorise imports of semen. That list is established on 
the basis of the animal health status of those third 
countries.  
(4) Decision 2002/613/EC also sets out a list of semen 
collection centres from which Member States are to 
authorise the importation of semen.  
(5) A number of semen collection centres in Canada and the 
United States are currently included in that list. Those 
third countries have requested that numerous 
amendments be made to the entries for their semen 
collection centres included in the list. Some of those 
amendments concern administrative details or deletion 
of already approved centres, while some concern the 
addition of new centres.EN L 320/12 Official Journal of the European Union 5.12.2009  
( 1 ) OJ L 224, 18.8.1990, p. 62.  (  2 ) OJ L 196, 25.7.2002, p. 45.(6) Canada and the United States have provided appropriate 
guarantees regarding the compliance of the new semen 
collection centres with the appropriate conditions laid 
down in Directive 90/429/EEC and the semen collection 
centres concerned have been officially approved for 
exports to the Community by the veterinary services of 
those third countries. The list of approved semen 
collection centres set out in Decision 2002/613/EC 
should therefore be amended accordingly.  
(7) The model veterinary certificate in Annex III to Decision 
2002/613/EC includes the animal health conditions for 
the importation of semen into the Community. Those 
conditions are not entirely consistent with those set 
out in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code of the World 
Organisation for Animal Health, (Terrestrial Animal 
Health Code) and hence they need to be updated.  
(8) In addition, Commission Decision 2007/240/EC (  1 ) 
provides that the various veterinary, public and animal 
health certificates required for the import of live animals, 
semen, embryo, ova and products of animal origin into 
the Community are to be based on the standard models 
for veterinary certificates set out in Annex I thereto.  
(9) Accordingly, the model health certificate set out in 
Annex III to Decision 2002/613/EC should be 
amended to take account of the relevant parts of the 
Terrestrial Animal Health Code and of the relevant 
standard model set out in Annex I to Decision 
2007/240/EC.  
(10) Annex IV to Decision 2002/613/EC sets out a model 
veterinary certificate which is to be used when 
consignments of semen are imported into the 
Community from Switzerland. However, specific certifi ­
cation requirements are provided for in point 3(b) of 
Chapter VIII(B) of Appendix 2 of Annex 11 to the 
Agreement between the European Community and the 
Swiss Confederation on trade in Agricultural Products (  2 ). 
That Agreement was approved by Decision 
2002/309/EC, Euratom of the Council, and of the 
Commission as regards the Agreement on Scientific 
and Technological Cooperation, of 4 April 2002 on 
the conclusion of seven Agreements with the Swiss 
Confederation (  3 ). 
(11) In view of those specific requirements, it is appropriate 
that consignments of semen from Switzerland imported 
into the Community be accompanied by a health 
certificate drawn up in accordance with the model used 
for intra-Community trade in semen and set out in Annex D to Directive 90/429/EEC, with the adaptations 
set out in point 3 of Chapter VIII(B) of Appendix 2 of 
Annex 11 to the Agreement between the European 
Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in 
Agricultural Products. Annex IV to Decision 
2002/613/EC should therefore be deleted.  
(12) In the application of this Decision, account should be 
taken of the specific certification requirements and 
model health attestations which may be laid down in 
accordance with the Agreement between the European 
Community and the Government of Canada on 
sanitary measures to protect public and animal health 
in respect of trade in live animals and animal 
products (  4 ), as approved by Council Decision 
1999/201/EC (  5 ). 
(13) In the application of this Decision, account should also 
be taken of the specific certification requirements and 
model health attestations which may be laid down in 
accordance with the Agreement between the European 
Community and New Zealand on sanitary measures 
applicable to trade in live animals and animal 
products (  6 ), as approved by Council Decision 
97/132/EC (  7 ). 
(14) In the interest of clarity and consistency of Community 
legislation, Decision 2002/613/EC should be repealed 
and replaced by this Decision.  
(15) To avoid any disruption of trade, the use of health 
certificates issued in accordance with Decision 
2002/613/EC should be authorised during a transitional 
period.  
(16) Council Directive 2008/73/EC (  8 ) amended Directive 
90/429/EEC and introduced a simplified procedure of 
listing and publishing the list of semen collection 
centres in third countries approved for imports of 
semen into the Community.  
(17) Under that new procedure, which is to apply from 
1 January 2010, the competence to establish the list 
will no longer lie with the Commission. The list of 
semen collection centres that the competent authority 
of the third country has approved in accordance with 
the conditions laid down in Directive 90/429/EEC and 
from which semen may be dispatched to the Community 
will only have to be communicated to the Commission, 
which is to make it available to the public for 
information purposes.EN 5.12.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 320/13  
( 1 ) OJ L 104, 21.4.2007, p. 37.  
( 2 ) OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, p. 132.  
( 3 ) OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, p. 1.  ( 4 ) OJ L 71, 18.3.1999, p. 3.  
( 5 ) OJ L 71, 18.3.1999, p. 1.  
( 6 ) OJ L 57, 26.2.1997, p. 5.  
( 7 ) OJ L 57, 26.2.1997, p. 4.  
( 8 ) OJ L 219, 14.8.2008, p. 40.(18) As a consequence of the new procedure introduced by 
Directive 2008/73/EC, the provision concerning the list 
of approved semen collection centres set out in this 
Decision should expire on 31 December 2009.  
(19) The measures provided for in this Decision are in 
accordance with the opinion of the Standing 
Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,  
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:  
Article 1  
Importation of semen  
Consignments of semen shall only be imported into the 
Community from third countries if they comply with the 
following conditions:  
(a) they come from the third countries listed in Annex I;  
(b) they are accompanied by a health certificate drawn up in 
accordance with the model health certificate set out in Part 
1 of Annex II, completed in accordance with the 
explanatory notes set out in Part 2 of Annex II; however, 
where specific certification requirements are laid down in 
bilateral agreements between the Community and third 
countries, those requirements shall apply;  
(c) they comply with the requirements set out in the health 
certificate referred to in point (b);  
(d) they come from a semen collection centre listed in 
Annex III.  
Article 2  
General conditions concerning the transport of 
consignments of semen to the Community  
1. Consignments of semen shall not be transported in the 
same container as other consignments of semen that:  
(a) are not intended for introduction into the Community, or  (b) are of a lower health status.  
2. During transport to the Community, consignments of 
semen shall be placed in closed and sealed containers and the 
seal must not be broken during the transport.  
Article 3  
Repeal  
Decision 2002/613/EC is repealed.  
Article 4  
Transitional provisions  
By way of derogation from Article 1(b), consignments of semen 
for which health certificates were issued before 31 May 2010 in 
accordance with the models set out in Annexes III and IV to 
Decision 2002/613/EC shall be accepted for imports into the 
Community until 30 June 2010.  
Article 5  
Applicability  
This Decision shall apply from 15 December 2009.  
However, Article 1(d) shall only apply from 15 December 2009 
to 31 December 2009.  
Article 6  
Addressees  
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.  
Done at Brussels, 30 November 2009.  
For the Commission  
Androulla VASSILIOU  
Member of the CommissionEN L 320/14 Official Journal of the European Union 5.12.2009ANNEX I  
List of third countries from which Member States are to authorise importation of semen of domestic animals of 
the porcine species  
ISO Code  Name of the third country  Remarks  
CA Canada  
CH Switzerland (*)  
NZ New Zealand  
US United States  
(*) Certificates in accordance with the Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricu ltural 
products (OJ L 114, 30.4.2002, p. 132).EN 5.12.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 320/15ANNEX II  
PART 1  
Model health certificate for importation of semen of domestic animals of the porcine species
EN L 320/16 Official Journal of the European Union 5.12.2009EN 5.12.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 320/17EN L 320/18 Official Journal of the European Union 5.12.2009EN 5.12.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 320/19EN L 320/20 Official Journal of the European Union 5.12.2009PART 2  
Explanatory notes for the certification  
(a) The health certificates shall be issued by the 
competent authority of the exporting third country, 
in accordance with the model set out in Annex II.  
If so requested by the Member State of destination, 
the additional certification requirements, attestations 
to certify that those requirements are fulfilled shall 
be also incorporated in the original form of the 
health certificate.  
(b) The original of the 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 indi ­
visible.  
(c) Where the model 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 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 Community 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 point I.28 of the model 
health certificate), additional sheets of paper are 
attached to the health certificate, those sheets of 
paper shall also be considered as forming part of 
the original of the health certificate by application 
of the signature and stamp of the certifying officer, 
on each of the pages.  (f) When the 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 
that has been designated by the competent authority 
on the top of the pages.  
(g) The original of the health certificate must be 
completed and signed by an official veterinarian the 
last working day prior to loading of the consignment 
for exportation to the Community. The competent 
authorities of the exporting third country shall 
ensure that certification requirements equivalent to 
those laid down in Council Directive 96/93/EC (  1 ) 
are followed.  
The colour of the signature and the stamp of the 
official veterinarian shall be different to that of the 
printing on the health certificate. This requirement 
also applies to stamps other than those embossed or 
watermarks.  
(h) The original of the health certificate must accompany 
the consignment until it reaches the border inspection 
post of introduction into the Community.  
(i) The certificate reference number referred to in points 
I.2 and II.a of the model health certificate must be 
issued by the competent authority of the exporting 
third country.EN 5.12.2009 Official Journal of the European Union L 320/21  
( 1 ) OJ L 13, 16.1.1997, p. 28.ANNEX III  
List of approved semen collection centres from which Member States are to authorise importation of semen of 
domestic animals of the porcine species  
ISO Code  Approval number  Name and address of the centre  
CANADA  
CA 7-AI-100  Aurora GTC 
Box 177 
Kipling, Saskatchewan 
Location SW 15-10-6 W2  
CA 8-AI-05  Alberta Swine Genetics Corp. 
Box 3310 
Leduc 
Alberta T9E 6M3  
CA 7-AI-96  Hypor 
Box 323 
Ituna 
Saskatchewan S0A 1V0  
CA 7-AI-105  Topigs Canada Inc 
201-1465 Buffalo Place 
Manitoba R3T 1L8  
SWITZERLAND  
CH CH-LU-AI-01S  Suisag, 6213 Knuttwil, Schaubern 
A: 041 462 65 50 B: 041 462 65 49 
info@suisag.ch  
CH CH-TG-AI-01S  Suisag, 9545 Wängi, Eggetsbühl 
A: 041 462 65 50 B: 041 462 65 49 
kca@suisag.ch  
UNITED STATES  
US 09IL002  INET * AI, INC. 
2429 N. 1950  th Avenue 
Camp Point, IL 62320EN L 320/22 Official Journal of the European Union 5.12.2009