Bovine Embryo (Collection, Production and Transfer) Regulations 1995
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
1995 No. 2478
AGRICULTURELIVESTOCK INDUSTRIES
The Bovine Embryo (Collection, Production and Transfer) Regulations 1995
Made 21th September 1995
Laid before Parliament 22th September 1995
Coming into force 13th October 1995
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in relation to England, the Secretary of State for Scotland in relation to Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales in relation to Wales, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by section 10(1) and (2) of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 19841and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Regulations:
Citation and commencement
1. These Regulations, which implement:
(a) Council Directive 89/556/EECon animal health conditions governing intra-community trade in and importation from third countries of embryos of domestic animals of the bovine species2;
(b) Council Directive 93/52/EECamending Directive 89/556/EECon animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in and importation from third countries of embryos of domestic animals of the bovine species3; and
(c) Commission Decision 94/113/ECamending Council Directive 89/556/EECon animal health conditions governing intra-community trade in and importation from third countries of embryos of domestic animals of the bovine species (text with EEA relevance)4,
may be cited as the Bovine Embryo (Collection, Production and Transfer) Regulations 1995 and shall come into force on 13th October 1995.
Interpretation
2.—(1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—
“approved” means approved by the appropriate Minister for the purposes of these Regulations;
“collect” means remove from a donor cow;
“cow” includes heifer;
“the International Embryo Transfer Society” means the Society of that name founded in Denver, Colorado, United States of America in 1974, incorporated in the State of Nebraska on 7 April 1975 and currently having its headquarters at 309 West Clark Street, Champaign, Illinois 61820, United States of America;
“intra-Area trade” means trade between the United Kingdom and another state of the European Economic Area;
“team veterinarian” means a veterinary surgeon who is responsible for a bovine embryo collection team, a bovine embryo production team or a bovine embryo transfer team;
“transfer” means transfer to a recipient cow;
“veterinary surgeon” means a veterinary surgeon (or veterinary practitioner) registered under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 19665.
(2) Subject to paragraph (1) above, any expressions used in these Regulations have the meaning they bear in Council Directive 89/556/EEC;
(3) A reference in these Regulations to a directive is to that directive as amended at the date of coming into force of these Regulations.
(4) Unless the context otherwise requires, any reference in these Regulations to a numbered regulation is to a regulation so numbered in these Regulations, and any reference to a Schedule is a reference to a Schedule to these Regulations.
Exemptions from the Regulations
3.—(1) The provisions of these Regulations relating to the collection, production or storage of bovine embryos shall not apply to bovine embryos produced for the purposes of research carried out in accordance with the conditions of a licence issued under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 19866.
(2) Other than regulations 21 and 22, these Regulations shall not apply in relation to embryos derived by transfer of nuclei.
Approvals
4.—(1) An application for approval as a bovine embryo collection team, production team or transfer team, or for any facilities used by such team shall be made in writing to the appropriate Minister and signed by the proposed team veterinarian.
(2) Any approval granted under these Regulations shall be in writing and may be made subject to conditions and may be varied, suspended or revoked by notice in writing at any time.
(3) In particular, any approval of premises and equipment granted under these Regulations may specify that such premises and equipment may be inspected, and may specify the frequency of such inspection.
Approval of bovine embryo collection teams for all purposes including intra-Area trade
5. The appropriate Minister may, on application, approve a bovine embryo collection team for the purposes of collecting bovine embryos for all purposes, including intra-Area trade, if it complies with Schedule 1.
Approval of bovine embryo collection teams for purposes other than intra-Area trade
6. The appropriate Minister may, on application, approve a bovine embryo collection team for the purposes of collecting bovine embryos other than for the purposes of intra-Area trade if it complies with Schedule 2.
Approval of bovine embryo production teams
7. The appropriate Minister may, on application, approve a bovine embryo production team for the purposes of artificial production of bovine embryos if it complies with Schedule 3.
Approval of bovine embryo transfer teams
8. The appropriate Minister may, on application, approve a bovine embryo transfer team for the purposes of transfer of bovine embryos if it—
(a) is headed by a veterinary surgeon; and
(b) has at its disposal a room or area equipped for cleaning and sterilising instruments and equipment used in bovine embryo transfer.
Registration numbers
9. Each team approved under regulation 5, 6, 7 or 8 above shall be given a registration number by the appropriate Minister, and if a team is approved for more than one activity shall be given a different number for each activity.
Collection of bovine embryos intended for intra-Area trade
10. No person shall collect or process any bovine embryo intended for intra-Area trade unless—
(a) he is a member of a collection team approved under regulation 5;
(b) he is the collection team veterinarian or acting under his authority;
(c) the bovine embryo is collected and processed in accordance with Schedule 4;
(d) the donor cow complies with the requirements of Schedule 5; and
(e) the bovine embryo was conceived as a result of artificial insemination with semen from a donor sire which, at the time of semen collection, was standing at a semen collection centre as defined in article 2.b of Council Directive 88/407/EEClaying down the animal health requirements applicable to intra-Community trade in and imports of deep-frozen semen of domestic animals of the bovine species7.
Collection of bovine embryos not intended for intra-Area trade
11.—(1) No person shall collect or process any bovine embryo not intended for intra-Area trade unless—
(a)
(a) he is a member of a collection team approved under regulation 5 or regulation 6;
(b)
(b) he is the collection team veterinarian or acting under his authority;
(c)
(c) the bovine embryo is collected and processed in accordance with Schedule 4 or Schedule 6;
(d)
(d) the donor cow is not subject to any veterinary prohibition or quarantine measures and shows no clinical sign of infectious disease at the date of collection; and
(e)
(e) the bovine embryo was conceived either—
(i) from a donor sire (either by natural service or by using raw semen) which, at the date of service, was not subject to any veterinary prohibition or quarantine measures and showed no clinical sign of infectious disease, or
(ii) by artificial insemination using semen which was eligible for distribution or sale in Great Britain at the time of insemination.
(2) A bovine embryo may be collected by either a veterinary surgeon or a member of an approved bovine embryo collection team acting under the authority of the team veterinarian for transfer without being processed in accordance with Schedule 4 or Schedule 6 if—
(a)
(a) the bovine embryo is intended for use in the United Kingdom without being frozen or stored and the recipient cow is in the same ownership as the donor cow;
(b)
(b) the donor cow is not subject to any veterinary prohibition or quarantine measures at the date of collection; and
(c)
(c) in a case where the bovine embryo was conceived by natural service or using raw semen, the donor sire was not subject to any veterinary prohibition or quarantine measures at the date of service.
(3) Where the appropriate Minister thinks fit, he may approve the collection of a bovine embryo produced from a donor animal which does not comply with this regulation provided it is not intended for intra-Area trade.
Production of bovine embryos in vitro
12. No person shall produce or process a bovine embryo in vitro unless—
(a) he is a member of a production team approved under regulation 7;
(b) he is the production team veterinarian or acting under his authority;
(c) the bovine embryo is produced in accordance with Schedule 7 using semen from a donor sire which, at the time of semen collection, was standing at a semen collection centre as defined in article 2.b of Council Directive 88/407/EECor, in the case of bovine embryos not intended for intra-Area trade, using semen which was eligible for distribution or sale in Great Britain at the time of fertilisation;
(d) the donor cow complies with the requirements of Schedule 5.
Approval of stores for bovine embryos for use in intra-Area trade
13.—(1) The appropriate Minister may, on application, approve a store for the storage of bovine embryos intended for intra-Area trade if it complies with the conditions of this regulation.
(2) The store shall...
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