WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/EEC/400 
19 April 2011 
 (11-2002) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Notifying Member:  EUROPEAN UNION
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:    
2. Agency responsible:  European Commission: Health & Consumers Directorate-General 
Directorate D - Animal Health and Welfare 
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):  HS Code 051110:  Semen of domestic animals of the bovine species 
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, Iceland, 
New Zealand, Saint Pierre and Mique lon, Switzerland and the United States.  
5. Title of the notified document:  "Draft Commission Implementing Decision on imports of 
semen of domestic animals of th e bovine species into the Union"  Language(s):  English  
Number of pages:  18 
 http://members.wto.org/crnattach ments/2011/sps/EEC/11_1202_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:  The purpose of this decision is to: 
- Supplement the list of third countries from which member States shall authorize imports 
of semen by Chile, Iceland and Saint Pierre  and Miquelon accordingly on the basis of 
the animal health status of those third countries; 
- Update import conditions for epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) in line with the 
requirements of the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE); 
- Align the model of health certificates for im ports into the European Union of semen of 
domestic animals of bovine species taking into account the amendments made to 
Council Directive 88/407/EEC by Directive 2008/ 73/EC (simplified procedure of listing 
semen collection and storage centres); 
- Adapt the model of veterinary certificate fo r trade in semen certificate collected in 
approved semen collection centres and dispatched from an approved semen storage 
centre. 
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.    G/SPS/N/EEC/400 
Page 2  
 
  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)   
[X] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)  Chapter 4.6  
[ ] 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 88/407/EEC of 14 June 1988 laying down the animal health requirements 
applicable to intra-Community trade in and imports of semen of domestic animals of the 
bovine species" (OJ L 194, 22.7.1988, p. 10.), a nd in particular Article 8(1), the first sub-
paragraph of Article 10(2), Article 11(2) a nd the second paragraph of Article 17 thereof 
(available in official EU languages). 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) :  August 2011 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) :  August 2011 
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  [ ] Six months from date of publication , and/or  
(dd/mm/yy) :  1 September 2011 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments:  [X] Sixty days  from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) :  17 June 2011 
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [X] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
European Commission 
DG Health and Consumers, Unit D3 - In ternational questions (multilateral)  
Rue Froissart 101 B 1049 Brussels Tel:  +(32 2) 29 68185/59922 Fax:  +(32 2) 29 98090 
E-mail:  sps@ec.europa.eu  G/SPS/N/EEC/400 
 Page 3 
 
 
  13. Texts available from:  [X] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:    
European Commission  
DG Health and Consumers, Unit D3 - In ternational questions (multilateral)  
Rue Froissart 101 
B 1049 Brussels 
Tel:  +(32 2) 29 68185/59922 Fax:  +(32 2) 29 98090 E-mail:  sps@ec.europa.eu