Health Certificate No ......................

HEALTH CERTIFICATE FOR EXPORT OF BOVINE SEMEN

FROM NORWAY

TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

1. Name of national competent authority 2. Health certificate No.

A. ORIGIN OF SEMEN

3. Approval number of the semen collection center:...................................................................

4. Name and address of the semen collection 

center:

5. Name and address of the consignor

6. Country and place of loading 7. Means of transport

B. DESTINATION OF SEMEN

8. Name and address of the consignee

C. IDENTIFICATION OF SEMEN

9.1 Name of 

donor 

bull

9.2 Breed 9.3Age 9.4Identification 

Number

9.5 Number 

of 

straws

9.6 Date of 

collection

9.7 Collection code

9.8. Seal number of container:...........................................................................................

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Health Certificate No ......................

D. HEALTH INFORMATION

Section A (to be signed by the Center Veterinarian)

11. I, the undersigned Center Veterinarian of the described semen collection centre, hereinafter “SCC,”

certify that:

11.1. all bovine animals in the above SCC were:

11.1.1 established as residents only if admitted by a formal process of quarantine, observation, and testing as 

required by legislation in force, notably Annex B to Council Directive 88/407/EEC, as amended by 

Directive 2003/43/EC;

11.1.2. admitted to the SCC herd only after having been proven free of brucellosis, tuberculosis, bovine genital 

campylobacteriosis and trichomoniasis;

11.1.3. admitted to the SCC herd only after having been proven free of viremia from persistent bovine viral 

diarrhea virus infection before entry into the SCC resident herd; and

11.1.4. were tested annually for brucellosis, tuberculosis, bovine genital campylobacteriosis, and 

trichomoniasis.

11.1.5 The semen for export to the United States was either (retain the applicable statement and strike out the 

other) collected prior to June 1, 2011; OR

 The semen in the consignment was collected after June 1, 2011 from donors that were negative to two

 serum neutralization tests (using a 1:8 cutoff titer) for Schmallenberg virus, with the first performed

 within 30 days prior to collection, and the second between 28 and 60 days after collection. Tests were

 performed in a laboratory approved by the national Competent Authority.

11.2. in the SCC:

11.2.1. the herd was tested for brucellosis, tuberculosis, bovine genital campylobacteriosis, and trichomoniasis 

in its entirety with negative results at the most recent herd test prior to the period of semen collection 

for export to the United States of America (USA);

11.2.2. no clinical or other evidence of brucellosis, tuberculosis, bovine genital campylobacteriosis, 

trichomoniasis or leptospirosis was found since the most recent herd test and prior to the embarkation 

of semen to the United States;

11.2.3. there was no evidence to indicate that the donors have been affected with tuberculosis or brucellosis 

during the 12 months prior to the collection of semen for export to the United States;

11.2.4. there was no clinical evidence of infection by bovine viral diarrhea virus, bluetongue virus, or 

infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus during the 60 days prior to and during the period of collection of 

semen for export to the United States; and

11.2.5. all bulls passed a testing program with negative results consistent with the Terrestrial Animal Health 

Code of the OIE (Article 4.5.5) or as outlined in Council Directive 88/407/EEC, as amended, to detect 

persistent testicular bovine viral diarrhea virus infection prior to semen release.

11.3. each donor bull for the semen described above:

11.3.1. originated from a tuberculosis-free herd;

11.3.2. was not corralled, pastured, or held with animals of lesser health status or under any restrictions which 

would make them ineligible to export semen to the United States during the 60 days prior to and during 

the period of collection of semen for export to the United States;

11.3.3. was subjected with negative results to the test described in 11.4.1 to 11.4.4 within six months prior to 

or six months after collection of the semen described above;

11.3.4 was subjected with negative results to the tests for bluetongue virus group (BTV) described in 11.4.5;

11.3.5. was inspected on the date of semen collection and found to be free of clinical signs of diseases 

transmissible in semen.

11.4. where reference is made to health tests, the following tests were carried out:

11.4.1. the cervical test for bovine tuberculosis described in the OIE Manual for Diagnostic Tests and 

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Health Certificate No ......................

Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals;

11.4.2. either a buffered brucella antigen test (card test, rose bengal test, or the buffered plate agglutination 

test), or

an ELISA test for bovine brucellosis (indirect or competitive) in accordance with the OIE Manual of 

Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, under the condition that samples that react 

positively were retested with negative results using a suitable confirmatory test such as the complement 

fixation test;

11.4.3. a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or culture of preputial smegma for bovine genital 

campylobacteriosis (Campylobacter fetus ssp. venerealis with negative results. The 

immunofluorescent antibody test may be used only as a screening test under the condition that samples 

that react positively must be retested using a suitable confirmatory test such as a PCR or culture of 

preputial smegma with negative results;

11.4.4. a PCR or a microscopic examination of a culture of preputial smegma for trichomoniasis (Trichomonas 

foetus) with negative results;

11.4.5 the donor bull was tested with an AGID or ELISA test for the bluetongue virus (BTV) group on blood 

serum performed prior to the first day of semen collection, at least every 60 days during the collection 

period, and between 21and 60 days after semen collection, with negative results; OR

11.4.5.1 the donor bull was tested with a whole blood PCR test for BTV group with one negative test at the 

beginning and conclusion of the collection period, and at least every 28 days during the period of 

semen collection; OR

11.4.5.2 the donor bull was tested with a whole-blood virus isolation test for BTV group with one negative test 

at the beginning and conclusion of the collection period, and at least every 7 days during the period of 

semen collection.

11.5. the semen was collected and processed under my supervision and placed in individual ampules or 

straws which were permanently marked with the name of the donor, his registration number, or the 

collection code;

11.6. semen collection equipment which came into contact with bulls or their secretions and excretions was 

thoroughly disinfected after each use, and good laboratory practices were followed during collection 

and processing of semen in order to minimize the possible introduction of microbial contamination; 

11.7. antibiotics were added to the semen and semen extender in amounts and combinations consistent with 

the standards described in “Certified Semen Services (CSS) Minimum Requirements for Disease 

Control of Semen Produced for AI,” Appendix I, website: http://www.naabcss.org/about_css/disease_control-2002.html.

11.8. no biological products other than frozen semen or embryos qualified for shipment to the United States 

were present in the containers prior to use for export of semen to the United States;

11.9. the storage and shipping containers are either new or cleaned and disinfected; and

11.10 only virgin liquid nitrogen was used to export semen to the United States.

12.1. Date and place 12.2. Name and qualification 

of the Center

Veterinarian

12.3. Signature and stamp of the 

Center Veterinarian

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Health Certificate No ......................

Section B ( to be signed by the Official Veterinarian after the Centre Veterinarian has signed)

13. I, the undersigned Official Veterinarian of Norway certify that:

13.1. Norway is considered by the USDA to be free of foot-and-mouth disease and rinderpest, as listed in 9 

CFR Part 94 and other official publications, and was free of these diseases at the time of semen 

collection;

13.2. Norway is free of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia;

13.3. the donor animals for the semen to be exported to the United States have been part of the national herd 

of Norway collected for a minimum of 60 days and are free from any movement or quarantine 

restrictions;

13.4. the semen collection centre, hereinafter “SCC,” was approved by the competent authority of Norway;

13.5. health tests required for export to the United States of bovine semen were performed by testing 

methods recognized by the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) Manual of Diagnostic Tests and 

Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals, as acceptable for international trade;

13.6. the laboratory tests mentioned in 11.4.2. to 11.4.5.2. were carried out with negative results in a 

laboratory approved by the national competent authority;

13.7. ruminant products used in commercial semen extenders in Norway were sourced from countries 

considered by USDA to be free from foot-and mouth disease and rinderpest as listed in 9 CFR Part 94 

and other official publications;

13.8. the semen to be exported to the United States was maintained under lock and key or in the custody of 

the SCC veterinarian, and segregated from other semen of lesser health status, until it was placed in the 

shipping container and sealed with official seals of Norway;

13.9. none of the semen for export to the USA has been stored or transported in containers with semen 

produced under less than equivalent animal health conditions;

13.10 the integrity of the total shipment and continuity of storage conditions for semen produced in different 

approved SCC units and collected in Norway (delete statement as appropriate);

13.11 the shipping containers were sealed with an approved seal from the competent authority of Norway, 

and the seal number is recorded on the health certificate; 

13.12. the semen is routed directly to the United States from Norway with no stops en route other than those 

provided on the USDA import permit; and

13.13. the Center Veterinarian that completed Section A of this certificate is authorized by the National 

Veterinary Service of Norway to perform this service.

14.1.Date and place 14.2.Name and qualification of the 

Official Veterinarian

14.3. Signature and stamp of the 

Official Veterinarian

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