. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/EU/19 
11 April 2012 
 (12-1870) 
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):  Embryos of domestic animals of the bovine 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:  Argentina, Australia, Cana da, Croatia, Israel, New 
Zealand, Switzerland, Former Yugosla v Republic of Macedonia, United States  
5. Title of the notified document:  "Draft Commission Implementing Decision amending 
Decision 2006/168/EC establishing the animal  health and veterinary certification 
requirements for imports into the Union of bovine embryos"   Language(s):  English 
Number of pages:  15 
 http://members.wto.org/crnattach ments/2012/sps/EEC/12_1261_00_e.pdf  
6. Description of content:   
The purpose of this Decision is to: 
- delete from Annex I to Decision 2006/168/EC an d the model of veterinary certificates in 
Annexes II, III and IV to that Decision the requirement for annual testing for Akabane and 
Aino diseases to prove absence of the vector; 
- align the model of veterinary certificates in Annexes II, III and IV to Decision 
2006/168/EC to Commission Decision 2007/240/EC, which provides that the various veterinary, public and animal health certifi cates required for the imports into the European 
Union of live animals, semen, embryo, ova and products of animal origin are to be based on the standard models of veterinary certificates set out in Annex I. 
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/19 
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 89/556/EEC of 25 September 1989 on an imal health conditions governing intra-
Community trade in and importation from third countries of embryos of domestic animals of the bovine species".  In particular point (b) of the first subparagraph of Article 9(1) 
(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