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* Indicated by the Cantonal Competent Authority. Swiss approved form No. O-2018-...

Schweiz / Suisse / Svizzera / Switzerland

Veterinary certificate for the exportation of bovine semen from Switzerland

to the United States of America

Part I: Details of dispatched consignment 

I.1. Consignor

Name:

Address:

I.2. Certificate reference number *:

I.3. a. Central competent authority:

Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO

Schwarzenburgstrasse 155, 3003 Bern, Switzerland

I.4. Consignee

Name:

Address:

I.3. b. Cantonal competent authority:

I.5. Country of origin: Switzerland

ISO Code: CH

I.6. Zone or compartment of origin:

I.7. Country of destination: United States of America

ISO Code: US

I.8. Zone or compartment of destination:

I.9. Place of origin (semen collection center): 

Name:

Address:

Approval number of establishment(s):

I.10. Place of shipment: I.11. Date of departure:

I.12. Means of transport:

Airplane □

Ship □

Railway wagon □

Road vehicle □

Other □

Identification:

I.13. Country and place of loading: 

I.14. Description of commodity I.15. Commodity code (HS code):

I.16. Total quantity:

I.17. Temperature of the product: 

Ambient □ Chilled □ Frozen □

I.18. Total number of packages:

I.19. Identification of container/seal number: I.20. Type of packaging:

I.21. Identification of commodities 1):

Name of donor bull: Breed: Age: Identification 

number:

Number of 

straws:

Date of 

collection:

Collection code:

1) If necessary, extra tables can be attached as annex by the consignor and should be approved and stamped by the Cantonal Competent Authority.
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* Indicated by the Cantonal Competent Authority. Swiss approved form No. O-2018-...

Switzerland Bovine semen

II. Zoosanitary information I.2. Certificate reference number *:

Part II: Zoosanitary information

Section A (to be signed by the Center Veterinarian)

I, the undersigned Center Veterinarian of the described semen collection center, hereinafter “SCC”, certify that:

1. All bovine animals in the above SCC were:

a) 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 Commission Decision 2003/43/EC;

b) Admitted to the SCC herd only after having been proven free of brucellosis, tuberculosis, bovine genital campylobacteriosis and 

trichomoniasis;

c) 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

d) Tested annually for brucellosis, tuberculosis, bovine genital campylobacteriosis, and trichomoniasis.

e) The semen for export to the United States was 2):

o either collected prior to June 1, 2011;

o or 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.

2. In the SCC:

a) 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);

b) 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;

c) 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;

d) 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

e) 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.

3. Each donor bull for the semen described above: 

a) Originated from a tuberculosis-free herd;

b) 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;

c) Was subjected with negative results to the test described in 4.a) to 4.d) within six months prior to or six months after collection of the semen 

described above;

d) Was subjected with negative results to the tests for bluetongue virus group (BTV) described in 4.e);

e) Was inspected on the date of semen collection and found to be free of clinical signs of diseases transmissible in semen.

4. Where reference is made to health tests, the following tests were carried out:

a) The cervical test for bovine tuberculosis described in the OIE Manual for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals;

b)

o either a buffered brucella antigen test (card test, rose bengal test, or the buffered plate agglutination test) 2);

o or 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 2);

c) 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;

d) A PCR or a microscopic examination of a culture of preputial smegma for trichomoniasis (Trichomonas foetus) with negative results.

e) The donor bull was tested with 2): 

o either 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;

o or 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;

o or 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.

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;

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;
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* Indicated by the Cantonal Competent Authority. Swiss approved form No. O-2018-...

Switzerland Bovine semen

II. Zoosanitary information I.2. Certificate reference number *:

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.

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;

9. The storage and shipping containers are either new or cleaned and disinfected; and

10. Only virgin liquid nitrogen was used to export semen to the United States.

o (Select only if applicable) For sexed semen:

- The semen sexing laboratory used to sex the semen for export to the United States is located in Switzerland, where the semen was 

collected, or was imported from the United States meeting all EU import requirements. The semen collection center is under the 

supervision of an approved Center Veterinarian, and is regularly inspected and approved in accordance with EU Directive

88/407/EEC. The sexing facility followed a United States Department of Agriculture approved “Cleaning and Disinfection Standard 

Operating Protocol” while processing this semen for export to the United States.

- The integrity of this shipment was maintained through the semen sexing process and no semen from other donors was mixed with 

semen that originated from the animals listed.

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

I, the undersigned Official Veterinarian of Switzerland certify that:

1. Switzerland 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;

2. Switzerland is free of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia;

3. The donor animals for the semen to be exported to the United States have been part of the national herd of Switzerland collected for a minimum 

of 60 days and are free from any movement or quarantine restrictions;

4. The semen collection center, hereinafter “SCC,” was approved by the competent authority of Switzerland;

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;

6. The laboratory tests mentioned in 4.b) to 4.e) were carried out with negative results in a laboratory approved by the national competent authority;

7. Ruminant products used in commercial semen extenders in Switzerland were sourced from countries considered by USDA to be free from footand mouth disease and rinderpest as listed in 9 CFR Part 94 and other official publications;

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 Switzerland;

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;

10. The integrity of the total shipment and continuity of storage conditions for semen produced in different approved SCC units and collected in 

Switzerland (delete statement as appropriate);

11. The shipping containers were sealed with an approved seal from the competent authority of Switzerland, and the seal number is recorded on the 

health certificate; 

12. The semen is routed directly to the United States from Switzerland with no stops en route other than those provided on the USDA import permit; 

and

13. The Center Veterinarian that completed Section A of this certificate is authorized by the National Veterinary Service of Switzerland to perform 

this service.

2) Select as appropriate.
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* Indicated by the Cantonal Competent Authority. Swiss approved form No. O-2018-...

Switzerland Bovine semen

III. Signature I.2. Certificate reference number *:

Part III: Signature

Section A

Center Veterinarian:

Name, address and qualification:

Place and date:

Signature and stamp of the Center Veterinarian:

Section B

Official Veterinarian:

Name, address and qualification:

Place and date:

Signature and stamp of the Official Veterinarian: