. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/SPS/N/CHE/48 
17 November 2005 
 (05-5401) 
Committee on Sanitary a nd Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION 
 
1. Member to Agreement notifying:  SWITZERLAND
 
If applicable, name of local government involved:        
2. Agency responsible:  Federal Veterinary O ffice (FVO), CH-3003 Bern  
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where 
applicable):  Animal semen, embryos and ova  
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All 
countries eligible to export such pr oducts to Switzerland (details see www.bvet.admin.ch  => 
English => import,expo rt,transit => import => semen,embryos,ova)  
5. Title, language and number of p ages of the notified document:  General revision to the 
import certificates for animal semen, embryos and ova (new model certificates available in German/French/Italian/English)  
6. Description of content:  The revision to the import certificates for animal semen, embryos 
and ova lays down the required format and cont ent of the documents (health certificates) that 
must accompany all consignments of the produc ts specified under item 3 above starting from 
01 June 2006.  
In order to facilitate international trade, Switzerland harmonizes its third country import 
regulation (including the certificates  required for import from eligible third countries) with the 
respective requirements of the European Communiti es as laid down in different EC decisions: 
Bovine semen  Directive 88/407/EEC, Decision 2004/939/EC 
Bovine embryos Directive 89/556/EEC, Decision 2005/217/EC  
Equine semen Directive 92/65/EEC , Decisions 95/307/EEC, 2004/284/EC, 
2004/211/EEC and 96/539/EEC 
Equine embryos and ova Directive 92/65/EEC, Decisions  95/294/EEC, 2004/211/EEC and 
96/540/EC   
Semen, embryos and ova from goats and sheep  Directive 92/65/EEC, Decisi ons 95/388/EC (amended by 
2005/43/EC) and 94/63/EC (r eferring to 79/542/EEC) 
Porcine semen  Directive 90/429/EEC, Decision 2002/613/EEC 
Porcine embryos 
and ova  Directive 92/65/EEC, Decisions 95/483/EC, 95/93/EC referring to 
Decision 2002/613/EEC 
Other animal germplasm 
products  Directive 92/65/EEC 
Consolidated EC documents available at : http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/consleg/index1.html  G/SPS/N/CHE/48 
Page 2  
 
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. International standard, guideline or recommendation: 
[   ] Codex Alimentarius Commission,  [   ] World Organization for Animal Health 
(OIE), [   ] International Plant Protection Convention,  [ X ] None 
If an international standard, guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate 
reference and briefly identify deviations:        
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Ordinance of 
20 April 1988 on the import, export and transit of animals and products  of animal origin 
(EDAV), available in German/French/Italian 
http://www.admin.ch/ch/d/sr/c916_443_11.html    
10. Proposed date of adoption:  1 December 2005  
11. Proposed date of entry into force:  1 June 2006  
New certificates will be accepted starting from 1 December 2005 (date of issue).  Until 1 
June 2006 (date of issue), previous certificates are still valid.  After that date, all consignments have to be accompanied by  new certificates.  
12. Final date for comments:  1 February 2006  
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [  X ] National notification 
authority, [    ] National enquiry point, or add ress, fax number and E-mail address (if 
available) of other body:  sps@seco.admin.ch  
13. Texts available from:  [    ] National notification authority, [  X ] National enquiry 
point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body: