Supplementary Tests on Frozen Bovine Semen Eliminated

ROMANIA - Romania has recently harmonized its import requirements with the EU legislation, removing the supplementary tests performed on frozen semen of bovine species upon importation.

31 December 2007

2 minute read

Europe

According to a report from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, the value of US frozen semen exports to Romania increased by 128 per cent in 2007.

From this year, imported frozen semen is included in the national support programme to encourage animal genetics improvement.

In the European Union, the import regime for bovine frozen semen originating from third countries is provided by the Council Directive 88/407/EEC laying down animal health requirements governing trade and imports into the Community of semen of domestic animals of bovine species, as amended by Directive 2003/43/EC.

Having regard to Council Directive 88/407, the European Union approved the Commission Decision 2004/639 laying down the importation conditions of semen of domestic animals of the bovine species. The above Commission Decision draws-up the models of veterinary certificates for imports of frozen semen.

The USDA report says that Romania transposed the Directive 88/407 (including the veterinary certificates) in 2006 with date of enforcement January 1, 2007. Nevertheless, the Romanian Sanitary-Veterinary Authority continued to require upon importation samples to perform supplementary laboratory tests. The following types of tests were conducted: bacteriology, parasitology, virology, mycology, and spermatic parameters (motility, concentration, morphology).

FAS Bucharest, with the significant help of APHIS Brussels, has been working with the Romanian Veterinary Authority for harmonizing the EU requirements, the USDA said.

As a result of this effort, the supplementary tests on frozen bovine semen imports were recently removed. As of today, the provisions of the health certificate for frozen bovine semen are sufficient for importation.

Increasing demand for frozen bovine semen, especially for dairy species, led to a climb in bull semen exports to Romania in 2007. According to Global Trade Atlas, total imports reached during January – August 2007 the value of $222,442, which is a boost of 23 per cent compared to last year. Imports from United States increased during the same time -frame by 128 per cent, reaching $147,734.

The USDA said that the elimination of these supplementary tests together with farmers’ increasing demand for high-quality US genetics are expected to lead to a higher growth rate in the near future.

Currently, the United States is a leader among the exporting countries accounting for 66 per cent of total frozen semen imports into Romania. It is worth noting that in 2007 the Romanian Government extended the eligibility for subsidies to foreign frozen semen, removing the discriminatory treatment which existed between domestic and foreign genetics suppliers. The value of the subsidy varies between 6- 7 RON/dose (around $3/dose) depending on the bull’s genetic value.