. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/EU/17 
11 April 2012 
 (12-1867) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Notifying Member:  EUROPEAN UNION 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  European Commission, Health and Consumers Directorate-General 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable):  Semen, ova and embryos of domestic  animals of the ovine and caprine 
species (CN 05 11 99 85) 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  Australia, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Greenland, 
Iceland, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Sw itzerland, New Zealand, the United States  
5. Title of the notified document:  "Draft Commission Implementing Decision amending 
Decision 2010/472/EU on imports of semen, ova and embryos of animals of the ovine and 
caprine species into the Union"  Language(s):  English   Number of pages:  15 
 http://members.wto.org/crnattach ments/2012/sps/EEC/12_1259_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:   
The purpose of this Decision is to: 
- delete from Annexes I and III to Decisi on 2010/472/EU and the model of health 
certificates in Part 2 of Annex II and Part 2 of  Annex IV to that Decision the requirement 
for annual testing for Akabane and Aino di seases to prove the absence of the vector; 
- align conditions for epizootic haemorrhagic di sease in the model of health certificates in 
Part 2 of Annex II and Part 2 of Annex IV to Decision 2010/472/EU to those set out respectively in Commission Implementing Decision 2011/630/EU of 20 September 2011 on 
imports into the European Union of semen of domestic animals of the bovine species and in 
the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals of the OIE. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other 
damage from pests.    
8. Is there a relevant international stan dard?  If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g.  title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text)   G/SPS/N/EU/17 
Page 2  
 
  [X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)  The Terrestrial Animal Health Code  
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[ ] None Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
 [X] Yes   [ ] No 
 If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:    
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available:  "Council 
Directive 92/65/EEC of 13 July 1992 laying down animal health requirements governing trade in and imports into the Community of animals, semen, ova and embryos not subject to animal health requirements laid down in specific Community rules referred to in Annex A(I) to Directive 90/425/EEC".  In partic ular Article 17(2)(b), the first indent of 
Article 18(1), and the introductory phrase and poi nt (b) of Article 19 (available in English). 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  August 2012 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  September 2012 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  1 January 2013 
[X] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [X] Sixty days  from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  10 June 2012 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [X] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:   
European Commission 
DG Health and Consumers, Unit G6 - Multilateral International relations 
Rue Froissart 101 B 1049 Brussels Tel: +(32  2) 29 68185/59922 Fax:  +(32 2) 2998090 
E-mail:  sps@ec.europa.eu 
13. Texts available from:  [X] National Notification Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
European Commission  
DG Health and Consumers, Unit G6 - Multilateral International relations 
Rue Froissart 101 B 1049 Brussels 
Tel: +(32  2) 29 68185/59922 
Fax:  +(32 2) 2998090 E-mail:  sps@ec.europa.eu