§ Mr. Ron DaviesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions currently apply to the export of semen from British cattle.
§ Mr. MacleanThe animal health conditions covering the export of semen are established by negotiation with the importing country. These may include confirmation of freedom from certain disease in relation to the collection centre and the donor, its herd of origin or the country as a whole and specific requirements in relation to the method of collection. In almost all cases the importing country will require the semen to be accompanied by an export health certificate signed by an official veterinarian to confirm that the necessary conditions have been met.
The United States, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and Iran have currently suspended imports of bovine semen from Great Britain because of concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy.