‘ANNEX II

as referred to in Article 3(1)

A. Live ruminants

1. Prior to shipment live ruminants must have been protected from attack from Culicoides likely to be competent bluetongue virus vectors for at least

(a) 60 days; or

(b) 28 days, and were subjected during that period to a serological test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual to detect antibodies to the bluetongue virus group, with negative results, carried out at least 28 days following the date of the commencement of the period of protection from vectors attack; or

(c) 14 days, and were subjected during that period to an agent identification test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual, with negative results, carried out at least 14 days following the date of the commencement of the period of protection from vectors attack.

2. During transportation to the place of destination live ruminants must have been protected from Culicoides attack.

B. Semen of ruminants

1. Semen must have been obtained from donor animals, which have been:

(a) protected from attack from Culicoides likely to be competent bluetongue virus vectors for at least 60 days before commencement of, and during, collection of the semen; or

(b) subjected to a serological test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual to detect antibodies to the bluetongue virus group, with negative results, at least every 60 days during the collection period and between 21 and 60 days following the final collection; or

(c) subjected, with negative results, to an agent identification test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual carried out on blood samples collected at: (i) the commencement and final collection; and (ii) during the period of semen collection: — at least every seven days, in the case of a virus isolation test, or — at least every 28 days, in the case of a polymerase chain reaction test.

2. Fresh semen may be produced from donor males which have been protected from attack from Culicoides for at least 30 days before commencement of, and during, collection of the semen, and were subjected to:

(a) a serological test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual to detect antibodies to the bluetongue virus group, with negative results, before the first collection and every 28 days during the collection period and 28 days following the final collection; or

(b) an agent identification test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual carried out with negative results on blood samples collected: (i) at commencement, final collection and seven days following final collection; and (ii) during the period of semen collection: — at least every seven days, in case of a virus isolation test, or — at least every 28 days, in case of a polymerase chain reaction test.

3. Frozen semen may be produced from donor males which have been tested, with negative results, in a serological test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual for the detection of antibodies for the bluetongue virus group carried out on a sample taken between 21 and 30 days following the semen collection during the mandatory storage period in accordance with point 1(f) of Annex C to Council Directive 88/407/EEC (1) or point (g) of Chapter III of Annex D to Council Directive 92/65/EC (2).

4. Female ruminants shall remain under observation on their holding of origin during at least 28 days following insemination with fresh semen referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2.

C. Oocytes and Embryos of ruminants

1. In vivo derived embryos of bovine animals must be collected in accordance with Council Directive 89/556/EEC (3)

2. In vivo derived embryos of ruminants other than bovines and in vitro produced bovine embryos must have been obtained from donor females, which have been:

(a) protected from attack from Culicoides likely to be competent bluetongue virus vectors for at least 60 days before commencement of, and during, collection of the embryos/oocytes; or

(b) subjected to a serological test according to the OIE Terrestrial Manual to detect antibodies to the bluetongue virus group, between 21 and 60 days following collection of the embryos/oocytes, with negative results; or