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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what regulations apply to the import into the UK of cervine embryos in relation to bovine TB; and what enforcement measures her Department has put in place. [197324] Mr. Bradshaw: In England, cervine embryos are imported by licences made under the Animal and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations 2004 or the Products of Animal Origin (Third Country Imports) (England) Regulations 2004 and the Importation of Embryos, Ova and Semen Order (as amended) 1984. There is equivalent legislation applied to other parts of the UK. The licence conditions include a request that the donor animals originate from a premises which, immediately prior to isolation at an approved collection centre, no clinical or other evidence has been recorded which leads to the conclusion that TB has occurred within the previous three years. Also, embryos intended for export to the UK must originate from a collection centre approved by an authorised veterinary officer of the competent authority of the exporting country. In addition, all genetic material imported from a third country must enter the European Community via an approved border inspection post where the consignments undergo a series of veterinary checks. The above statutory instruments are enforced by local authorities. The likelihood of semen or ova from donor animals of domestic species being infected with TB is minimal. The World Organisation for Animal Health has published a "Categorisation of Diseases and Pathogenic Agents" by the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS). The IETS has categorised Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (cattle) as a category 4 disease on which preliminary work has been conducted or is in progress. Category 4 is made up of diseases/pathogenic agents for which transmission is considered a low risk.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

426 c1240-1W;426 c1244-5W; 197324

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Animal breeding Licensing Disease control Import controls Imports Livestock Bovine tuberculosis

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk