Animal Products Notice 

Bovid Embryos (in vivo) to 

the United States of America 

(OMAR) 

USEMBIVD05 

Effective from 21 March 2024 

Issued under the Animal Products Act 1999 
Animal Products Notice: Bovid Embryos (in vivo) to the United States of America (OMAR) 

 21 March 2024 

TITLE 

Animal Products Notice: Bovid Embryos (in vivo) to the United States of America (OMAR) 

COMMENCEMENT 

This Animal Products Notice comes into force on 21 March 2024 

REVOCATION 

This Animal Products Notice revokes and replaces: 

• BOVEMB.US, Bovine Embryos to the United of States of America dated 22 December 2017. 

ISSUING AUTHORITY 

This Animal Products Notice is issued under sections 167(1) and 60(1) of the Animal Products Act 1999. 

Dated at Wellington, 20 March 2024 

Trish Mead 

Manager Animal Health & Exports (acting) 

Ministry for Primary Industries 

(acting under delegated authority of the Director-General) 

Contact for further information 

Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) 

Agriculture & Investment Services 

Animal Health and Welfare 

PO Box 2526 

Wellington 6140 

Email: animalexports@mpi.govt.nz 

Ministry for Primary Industries Page 1 of 10 
Animal Products Notice: Bovid Embryos (in vivo) to the United States of America (OMAR) 

 21 March 2024 

Contents Page 

Introduction 3 

Part 1: Requirements 5 

1.1 Application 5 

1.2 Definitions 5 

1.3 Requirements for export 5 

1.4 Laboratories 5 

Part 2: Zoosanitary Certificate 6 

Ministry for Primary Industries Page 2 of 10 
Animal Products Notice: Bovid Embryos (in vivo) to the United States of America (OMAR) 

 21 March 2024 

Introduction 

This introduction is not part of the Animal Products Notice, but is intended to indicate its general effect. 

Purpose 

The purpose of this document is to set out the zoosanitary requirements necessary to export compliant Bovid 

Embryos (in vivo) from New Zealand to the United States of America. 

Background 

The Animal Products Act 1999 provides the controls and mechanisms needed to give and to safeguard official 

assurances or zoosanitary certificates to facilitate the entry of animal material including live animals, hatching 

eggs, semen and embryos, and products into overseas markets. 

Notices issued as Overseas Market Access Requirements (OMARs) under section 60(1)(a) and (b) of the 

Animal Products Act specify the requirements that are necessary or desirable for the purpose of facilitating 

access to overseas markets or are in accordance with the requirements of the relevant authority of the 

importing country. 

OMARs may also determine the form and content of the official assurances that can be issued for animal 

material or product, including live animals, hatching eggs, semen or embryos, which meet the specified 

requirements. 

Where the OMAR determines the form and content of the official assurances, a separate export certificate 

template is available to authorised persons, recognised persons and registered exporters who have applied 

for access to the certificate templates, to facilitate the completion and issuing of the relevant official 

assurance. That template will be an amendable version of the form set in the OMAR. 

Notices issued under section 60(1)(c) of the Animal Products Act to safeguard the assurances provided by 

New Zealand, and guidance in the form of Operational Codes, should be read in conjunction with this Notice. 

This OMAR specifies the requirements that must be met by exporters of Bovid Embryos (in vivo) to be 

exported from New Zealand to the United States of America and determines the form and content of the 

official assurance that must accompany the Bovid Embryos to be exported. The OMAR was issued after 

consultation with the United of States of America to address their requests for changes to the previous OMAR. 

Who should read this Animal Products Notice? 

Exporters of Bovid Embryos (in vivo) to United States of America. 

Operators of Export Approved Premises collecting Bovid Embryos (in vivo) for export to the United States of 

America. 

Why is this important? 

This Notice is important because it sets out the requirements that need to be met so that the Director-General 

of the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) can certify that the Bovid Embryos meet the 

requirements for export to United States of America which New Zealand, in consultation with the government 

of the United States of America, has determined will apply. It should be noted that although the Bovid 

Embryos (in vivo) may comply with these requirements and be given an official assurance (by way of a 

certificate), the importing country ultimately retains control over what Bovid Embryos it clears for entry. 

Ministry for Primary Industries Page 3 of 10 
Animal Products Notice: Bovid Embryos (in vivo) to the United States of America (OMAR) 

 21 March 2024 

Document History 

Version Date Section Changed Change(s) Description 

21/03/2024 All sections • New OMAR format. 

• Merged part A and B of the certificate. 

• Under Country Freedom: 

− Clause 1.1 The addition of surra. 

− Clause 1.2 No cases of disease caused by 

Schmallenberg virus have been detected or reported 

in New Zealand. 

• Under Embryo collection team and fertilisation of the 

embryos: 

− Clause 4.2.1 The semen meets the requirements 

outlined in the certificate for import to the USA. 

• Under Diagnostic Tests: 

− Clause 5.1The embryo donor(s) (and sire(s) or fresh 

semen donor(s) in the case of natural breeding or 

the use of fresh semen) originate(s) from a herd that 

is free of bovine tuberculosis and was/were tested, 

within 12 months after the last collection of embryos. 

Other information 

Export non-conformances 

Exporters should note that, under section 51 of the Animal Products Act 1999, where they have exported 

animal material or products, including live animals, hatching eggs, semen and embryos, that are refused entry 

by the foreign government they have a statutory duty to notify the Director-General of MPI not later than 24 

hours after they have first knowledge of the event. 

Liability 

Section 61A of the Animal Products Act 1999 states that: 

The Crown is not liable, and nor is the Director-General or any employee of the Ministry liable, 

for any loss arising through the refusal or failure of the relevant authority of an overseas 

market to admit export animal material or animal product to that market. 

Related documents 

OMAR documents can be downloaded from https://www.mpi.govt.nz/export-requirements/omars-for-liveanimals-semen-and-embryos/ 

When you click on the + symbol on the right-hand side of any OMAR document, you can view the related 

information and documents (guidance document and export certificate template). 

The export certificate for this OMAR is provided for in Bovid Embryos to the United States of America (Export 

Certificate). The export certificate is password-protected through a RealMe ® account. 

Ministry for Primary Industries Page 4 of 10 
Animal Products Notice: Bovid Embryos (in vivo) to the United States of America (OMAR) 

 21 March 2024 

Part 1: Requirements 

1.1 Application 

(1) This Notice applies to the export of in-vivo derived (IVD) bovid embryos collected in New Zealand from 

donor animals of the following species to the United States of America: 

a) Bovine / cattle (Bos taurus, Bos indicus, Bison bison), 

b) Water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), and 

c) Yak (Bos grunniens) 

1.2 Definitions 

(1) In this Notice, unless the context otherwise requires: 

Act means the Animal Products Act 1999 

USDA APHIS means Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service U.S Department of Agriculture. 

(2) A term used in this Notice that is defined in the Act or the following Notices (or their successors) has 

the meaning given to it in the Act or that Notice: 

a) Animal Products Notice: Official Assurances Specifications for Animal Material and Animal 

Products. 

b) Animal Products Notice: Recognised Laboratories. 

c) Animal Products Notice: Export Approved Premises. 

1.3 Requirements for export 

(1) Bovid Embryos exported from New Zealand to the United Sates of America must be accompanied by 

an official assurance in the form of a zoosanitary certificate, a sample version of which is included in 

Part 2. 

(2) A zoosanitary certificate must be completed and issued by an authorised person. 

(3) In order to issue a zoosanitary certificate, the authorised person must be satisfied that: 

a) A permit to import the Bovid Embryos has been issued by the competent authority of the United 

States of America. 

b) The proposed shipment otherwise meets the requirements of this Notice. 

1.4 Laboratories 

(1) Where this Notice requires laboratory testing to be undertaken for official purposes the testing, unless 

otherwise stated must be done in laboratories recognised by MPI for this testing. 

Ministry for Primary Industries Page 5 of 10 
Animal Products Notice: Bovid Embryos (in vivo) to the United States of America (OMAR) 

 21 March 2024 

Part 2: Zoosanitary Certificate 

Certificate No: ................................. 

SAMPLE

NEW ZEALAND MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES 

ZOOSANITARY CERTIFICATE 

Commodity: BOVID EMBRYOS (IN VIVO) 

To: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 

Exporting Country: NEW ZEALAND 

Competent Authority: MINISTRY FOR PRIMARY INDUSTRIES 

Import Permit Number: ....................................................................................... 

I. INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DONOR ANIMAL(S) 

Breed Herd Book Official ID / NAIT Age 

Registration Number RFID 

Donor cow 

Donor bull 

**The straws contain only embryos from the same collection. 

Total number of embryos: ...................................................................................................... 

Total number of straws: ....................................................................................................... 

II. INFORMATION CONCERNING THE EMBRYOS AND SEMEN 

Identification Date(s) of collection No. of embryos / No. of Straw identification / 

straws Collection Code 

Donor cow 

Donor bull 

III. INFORMATION CONCERNING THE EMBRYOS OF EACH DONOR(S) 

Name, address, and registration number of exporter: 

Name and address of the embryo collection team: 

Registration number of the embryo collection team: 

Number of containers (in numbers and letters): 

Number of the seal(s) of the container(s): 

Bovid Embryos to the United States of America 

USEMBIVD05 21 March 24 Page 1 of 5 

Ministry for Primary Industries Page 6 of 10 
 

Animal Products Notice: Bovid Embryos (in vivo) to the United States of America (OMAR) 

 21 March 2024 

IV. DESTINATION 

Name of importer: 

SAMPLE

Address of importer: 

Name, address of consignee (if different): 

Port of arrival: 

V. TRANSPORT 

Means of transport: 

Port of departure: 

Page 2 of 5 

Ministry for Primary Industries Page 7 of 10 
Animal Products Notice: Bovid Embryos (in vivo) to the United States of America (OMAR) 

 21 March 2024 

Certificate No: ................................. 

V. ZOOSANITARY INFORMATION 

VETERINARY CERTIFICATION 

SAMPLE

I, an Official Veterinarian of the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries, certify, after due enquiry in 

regard to the animals and embryo(s) listed in the export certificate, that: 

1. COUNTRY FREEDOM 

1.1 New Zealand is free of the following diseases: Akabane virus, Aino virus, bluetongue, epizootic 

hemorrhagic disease, brucellosis (Brucella abortus & B. melitensis), contagious bovine 

pleuropneumonia, ephemeral fever, foot-and-mouth disease and surra. 

1.2 Vaccination against the diseases listed in clause 1.1 is prohibited. 

1.3 No cases of disease caused by Schmallenberg virus have been detected or reported in New Zealand. 

2. HERD OF ORIGIN 

2.1 During the twelve (12) months prior to the collection of embryos for export to the United States of 

America, there has been no evidence of bovine tuberculosis (Tb) found on any establishments on 

which the donor dam(s) was/were located during that time. 

3. DONOR ANIMAL(S) 

3.1 The embryo donor(s) was/were continuously resident in New Zealand and free from any movement or 

quarantine restrictions for at least sixty (60) days prior to the collection. 

3.2 The embryo donor(s) was/were kept separate from animals not of an equivalent health status or under 

restrictions that would make them ineligible as embryo donors for export to the Unites States for at 

least sixty (60) days prior to the collection. 

3.3 The embryo donor(s) was/were inspected by the team veterinarian and found to be free of clinical 

evidence of communicable diseases transmissible by embryo transfer for at least sixty (60) days prior 

to the collection of embryos for export to the United States. The donor sire(s) was/were also inspected 

if natural breeding or fresh semen was used for fertilization. 

3.4 The embryo donor(s) was/were examined on the day of embryo collection and appeared healthy and 

clinically free of diseases transmissible by embryos. 

4. EMBRYO COLLECTION TEAM AND FERTILISATION OF THE EMBRYOS 

4.1 The embryo collection team: 

4.1.1 is approved by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries as having facilities suitable 

for the collection of embryos for export. 

4.1.2 is under the direct supervision and sanitary control of a team veterinarian who is approved 

by the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries, and who is responsible for the hygiene 

of the facilities and the health of the animals. 

4.2 The embryos were fertilised: 

either *[4.2.1 by artificial insemination (AI), using semen from a semen collection centre 

approved by the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries for the export of 

semen, and that met the requirements to be certified for export from New Zealand to 

the United States of America.] 

Bovid Embryos to the United States of America 

USEMBIVD05 21 March 2024 Page 3 of 5 

Ministry for Primary Industries Page 8 of 10 
Animal Products Notice: Bovid Embryos (in vivo) to the United States of America (OMAR) 

 21 March 2024 

or *[4.2.2 by natural breeding or the use of fresh semen from a donor sire(s) certified as 

having met the same residency, health and tested health status requirements as the 

female donor animal(s).] 

SAMPLE

or *[4.2.3 with semen legally imported from the United States or Canada.] 

* Delete as appropriate 

5. DIAGNOSTIC TESTS 

5.1 The embryo donor(s) (and sire(s) or fresh semen donor(s) in the case of natural breeding or the use of 

fresh semen) originate(s) from a herd that is free of bovine tuberculosis and was/were tested, within 

12 months after the last collection of embryos, with negative results, using either the caudal fold test 

(CFT) or the single cervical test (SCT): 

Date test read: ......................................................................................................

6. COLLECTION, PROCESSING AND STORING OF THE EMBRYOS 

6.1 The embryo(s) was/were collected in accordance with the recommendations set out in the WOAH 

Terrestrial Animal Health Code and the International Embryo Technology Society (IETS) Manual 

using a closed flushing system, and any instrument or equipment that contacted the tissues of the 

female reproductive tract or flushing fluids was either new or pre-sterilized equipment. 

6.2 The embryo(s) was/were processed, identified and stored in accordance with the recommendations set 

out in the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code and the International Embryo Technology Society 

(IETS) Manual. 

6.3 Each embryo was washed at least 10 times and treated with trypsin, in accordance with the latest 

published edition of the Manual of the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS). 

6.4 Embryos from different donors were not washed together. 

6.5 After the last wash, each embryo was microscopically examined over its entire surface at not less than 

50x magnification and the zona pellucida was found to be intact and free from any adherent material. 

6.6 All equipment used to process the embryos was either new or sterilised between each use, with 

standard sterilisation procedures being observed. 

6.7 All media and additives of ruminant origin, including foetal bovine serum and bovine serum albumin, 

were sourced from countries free of foot-and-mouth disease. Trypsin of porcine origin was sourced 

from countries free of foot-and-mouth disease, classical swine fever and African swine fever. 

6.8 The embryos were stored under lock and key, or in the custody of the team veterinarian, and 

segregated from embryos of a lesser health status until they were placed in the shipping container. 

7. TRANSPORT 

7.1 The shipping container was filled with only new (virgin) liquid nitrogen, and was: 

either *[7.1.1 new.] 

or *[7.1.2 examined by the team veterinarian, found to be clean and empty of embryos and 

other biological materials, and disinfected prior to its use using: 

Name and active ingredient: ...................................................................

Date of disinfection: ...........................................................................] 

Page 4 of 5 

Ministry for Primary Industries Page 9 of 10 
Animal Products Notice: Bovid Embryos (in vivo) to the United States of America (OMAR) 

 21 March 2024 

Certificate No: ................................. 

* Delete as applicable 

7.1 Prior to shipment, the container with the embryo(s) identified above was sealed with an official seal 

by an Official Veterinarian. 

SAMPLE

Number of the MPI official seal: ................................................................................... 

Serial number of the container: ..................................................................................... 

................................................................................................................................................................................ 

Signature of Official Veterinarian Official Stamp and 

Date 

Ministry for Primary Industries 

Name and Address: 

Note: The Official Veterinarian must sign, date and stamp each page of the veterinary certificate and, 

where applicable, all documents that form part of the extended health certification. 

Bovid Embryos to the United States of America 

USEMBIVD05 21 March 2024 Page 5 of 5 

Ministry for Primary Industries Page 10 of 10