APHIS Bars Importation of EU Germplasm Collected After June 1
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) said that bovine germplasm collected in the European Union after June 1, 2011 will not be eligible for importation to the U.S. The ban follows additional restrictions that APHIS placed, and that…
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took effect February 21, 2012, on shipments of ruminant semen and germplasm originating from the European Union (EU) and other countries that are not formally part of the EU but follow EU legislation. The restrictions were imposed to address the “emergence of Schmallenberg virus in Europe.” Thought to be distributed by flying insects such as midges and possibly mosquitoes, the virus is not known to be present in the U.S., and has not been reported to be of human health concern. Infection with the virus causes transient disease in adult cattle, sheep and goats, resulting in production losses; but has also been associated with a high percentage of fetal malformations, abortions, dystocias and death of infected pregnant animals, APHIS said. No treatments or vaccines are available, and testing is currently limited in nature, it said. To be eligible for importation, any consignments of bovine germplasm, originating from the EU countries must include a statement on the official export health certificate that they were collected prior to June 1, 2011, APHIS said.