9 C.F.R. Subpart A—Ruminant and Swine Embryos from Regions Free of Rinderpest and Foot-and-Mouth Disease; and Embryos of Horses and Asses
Title 9 - Animals and Animal Products
The following terms, when used in this subpart, shall be construed as defined. Those terms used in the singular form in this subpart shall be construed as the plural form and vice versa, as the case may demand. Administrator. The Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or any person authorized to act for the Administrator. Animal. Any cattle, sheep, goats, other ruminants, swine, horses, or asses. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (APHIS). Approved artificial insemination center. A facility approved or licensed by the national government of the region in which the facility is located to collect and process semen under the general supervision of such government. Approved embryo transfer unit. A facility approved or licensed by the national government of the region in which the facility is located for the artificial insemination of donor dams or for conception as a result of artificial breeding by a donor sire and for collecting and processing embryos for export under the general supervision of such government. Department. The United States Department of Agriculture. Embryo. The initial stage of an animal's development after collection from the natural mother, while it is capable of being transferred to a recipient dam, but not including an embryo that has been transferred to a recipient dam. Enter (entered, entry) into the United States. To introduce into the commerce of the United States after release from governmental detention at the port of entry. Flock. A herd. Herd. All animals maintained on any single premises; and all animals under common ownership or supervision on two or more premises which are geographically separated, but among which there is an interchange or movement of animals. Import (imported, importation) into the United States. To bring into the territorial limits of the United States. Inspector. An employee of APHIS who is authorized to perform the function involved. Person. Any individual, corporation, company, association, firm, partnership, society, joint stock company, or any other legal entity. Region. Any defined geographic land area identifiable by geological, political, or surveyed boundaries. A region may consist of any of the following: (1) A national entity (country); (2) Part of a national entity (zone, county, department, municipality, parish, Province, State, etc.) (3) Parts of several national entities combined into an area; or (4) A group of national entities (countries) combined into a single area. United States. All of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands of the United States and all other territories and possessions of the United States. [50 FR 43563, Oct. 25, 1985. Redesignated and amended at 56 FR 55808, Oct. 30, 1991; 57 FR 29194, July 1, 1992; 61 FR 17241, Apr. 19, 1996; 62 FR 56025, Oct. 28, 1997] Except as provided in subpart B of this part, an animal embryo shall not be imported into the United States unless it is from a region listed in §94.1(a)(2) of this chapter as being free of rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease, and: (a) The embryo is exported to the United States from the region in which it was conceived; (b) The embryo was conceived as a result of artificial insemination with semen collected from a donor sire at an approved artificial insemination center, or the embryo as conceived as a result of natural breeding by a donor sire at an approved embryo transfer unit; (c) If artificially inseminated, the donor dam conceived the embryo after being inseminated in an approved embryo transfer unit with semen collected at an approved artificial insemination center; (d) At the time of collection of the semen used to conceive the embryo or at the time of natural breeding, the donor sire met all requirements the donor sire would have to meet under part 93 of this chapter for a health certificate required as a condition of importation into the United States; (e) At the time of collection of the embryo from the donor dam, the donor dam met all requirements the donor dam would have to meet under part 92 of this chapter for a health certificate required as a condition of importation into the United States; (f) There is no basis for denying an import permit for the donor sire or donor dam under §93.304(a)(2) for horses, §93.404(a)(2) or (3) for ruminants, and §93.504(a)(2) or (3) for swine of this chapter; (g) The embryo is collected and maintained under conditions determined by the Administrator to be adequate to protect against contamination of the embryo with infectious animal disease organisms; and (h) The embryo was determined, based on microscopic examination, to have an intact zona pellucida at the time the embryo was placed into its immediate container (straw or ampule) for shipping. (i) The embryo is contained in a shipping container which at the time of offer for entry is sealed with an official seal which was affixed to the shipping container by a full-time salaried veterinarian of the national animal health service of the region of origin or by a veterinarian authorized to do so by the national animal health service of the region of origin. [50 FR 43563, Oct. 25, 1985, as amended at 55 FR 31558, Aug. 2, 1990; 56 FR 55809, Oct. 30, 1991; 57 FR 29194, July 1, 1992; 62 FR 56025, Oct. 28, 1997] (a) Except as provided in subpart B of this part, an animal embryo shall not be imported into the United States unless accompanied by an import permit issued by APHIS and unless imported into the United States within 14 days after the proposed date of arrival stated in the import permit. (b) An application for an import permit must be submitted to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Veterinary Services, National Center for Import-Export, 4700 River Road Unit 38, Riverdale, Maryland 20737–1231. An application form for an import permit may be obtained from this staff. (c) The completed application shall include the following information: (1) The name and address of the person intending to export an embryo from the region of origin, (2) The name and address of the person intending to import an embryo, (3) The species, breed, and number of embryos to be imported, (4) The purpose of the importation, (5) The region in which the embryo is conceived, (6) The port of embarkation, (7) The mode of transportation, (8) The route of travel, (9) The port of entry in the United States, (10) The proposed date of arrival in the United States, (11) The name and address of the person to whom the embryo will be delivered in the United States, and (12) The measures to be taken to ensure that the embryo is collected and maintained under conditions adequate to protect against contamination of the embryo with infectious animal disease organisms. (d) After receipt and review of the application by APHIS, an import permit indicating the applicable conditions under this subpart for importation into the United States shall be issued for the importation of embryos described in the application if such embryos appear to be eligible to be imported. Even though an import permit has been issued for the importation of an embryo, the embryo may be imported only if all applicable requirements of this subpart are met. [50 FR 43563, Oct. 25, 1985, as amended at 56 FR 55809, Oct. 30, 1991; 57 FR 29194, July 1, 1992; 59 FR 67616, Dec. 30, 1994; 62 FR 56025, Oct. 28, 1997] (a) Except as provided in subpart B of this part, an animal embryo shall not be imported into the United States unless it is accompanied by a certificate issued by a full-time salaried veterinary officer of the national government of the region of origin, or issued by a veterinarian designated or accredited by the national government of the region of origin and endorsed by a full-time salaried veterinary officer of the national government of the region of origin, representing that the veterinarian issuing the certificate was authorized to do so. The certificate shall state: (1) The dates, places, types, and results of all examinations and tests performed on the donor sire and donor dam as a condition for importation of the embryo, and the names and addresses of persons or laboratories conducting the examinations or tests, and a statement that any other requirements established by §98.3 have been complied with, (2) The name and address of the consignor and consignee, (3) The name and address of the approved artificial insemination center where the semen for the embryo was collected, if applicable, (4) The name and address of the approved embryo transfer unit where the donor dam was inseminated or bred and the embryo was collected, and (5) The measures taken to ensure that the embryo was collected and maintained under conditions adequate to protect against contamination of the embryo with infectious animal disease organisms. (b) The certificate accompanying sheep or goat embryos intended for importation from any part of the world shall, in addition to the statements required by paragraph (a) of this section, state that: (1) The embryos' sire and dam have not been in any flock or herd nor had contact with sheep or goats which have been in any flock or herd where scrapie has been diagnosed or suspected during the 5 years prior to the date of collection of the embryos; (2) The embryos' sire and dam showed no evidence of scrapie at the time the embryos were collected; (3) Scrapie has not been suspected nor confirmed in any progeny of the embryos' donor dam; and (4) The parents of the embryos' sire and dam are not, nor were not, affected with scrapie. [50 FR 43563, Oct. 25, 1985, as amended at 56 FR 55809, Oct. 30, 1991; 61 FR 15183, Apr. 5, 1996; 61 FR 17241, Apr. 19, 1996; 62 FR 56025, Oct. 28, 1997] An embryo shall not be imported into the United States unless at a port of entry listed in §93.303 for horses, §93.403 for ruminants, or §93.503 for swine of this chapter. [50 FR 43563, Oct. 25, 1985, as amended at 55 FR 31558, Aug. 2, 1990; 62 FR 56025, Oct. 28, 1997] Upon arrival of an embryo at a port of entry, the importer or the importer's agent shall notify APHIS of the arrival by giving an inspector a document stating: (a) The port of entry, (b) The date of arrival, (c) Import permit number, (d) Carrier, and identification of the means of conveyance, (e) The name and address of the importer, (f) The name and address of the broker, (g) The region of origin of the embryo, (h) The number, species, and purpose of importation of the embryo, and (i) The name and address of the person to whom the embryo will be delivered. [50 FR 43563, Oct. 25, 1985, as amended at 57 FR 29194, July 1, 1992; 62 FR 56025, Oct. 28, 1997] Any embryo offered for entry into the United States in accordance with this subpart and documents accompanying the embryo shall be subject to inspection by an inspector at the time the embryo is offered for entry in order to determine whether the embryo is eligible for entry. The import permit and the health certificate shall be given to the inspector. [50 FR 43563, Oct. 25, 1985, as amended at 56 FR 55809, Oct. 30, 1991] Any embryo refused entry into the United States for noncompliance with the requirements of this subpart shall be removed from the United States within a time period specified by the Administrator or abandoned by the importer for destruction, and pending such action shall be subject to such safeguards as the inspector determines necessary to prevent the possible introduction into the United States of infectious animal diseases. If such embryo is not removed from the United States within such time period, or abandoned for destruction, it may be seized, destroyed, or otherwise disposed of as the inspector determines necessary to prevent the possible introduction into the United States of infectious animal diseases. [50 FR 43563, Oct. 25, 1985, as amended at 56 FR 55809, Oct. 30, 1991; 57 FR 29194, July 1, 1992] Notwithstanding other provisions in this part, the Administrator may in specific cases allow the importation and entry into the United States of embryos other than as provided for in this part under such conditions as the Administrator may prescribe to prevent the introduction into the United States of infectious animal diseases. [50 FR 43563, Oct. 25, 1985, as amended at 57 FR 29194, July 1, 1992] (a) Except for embryos from sheep in Australia, Canada, or New Zealand, embryos from sheep may only be imported into the United States if they comply with all applicable provisions of this subpart and one of the following conditions: (1) The embryos are transferred to females in a flock in the United States that participates in the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program (see 9 CFR part 54, subpart B) and qualifies as a “Certified” flock; or (2) The embryos are transferred to females in a flock in the United States that participates in the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program (see 9 CFR part 54, subpart B) and the flock owner has agreed, in writing, to maintain the flock, and all first generation progeny resulting from embryos imported in accordance with this section, in compliance with all requirements of the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program until the flock, including all first generation progeny resulting from embryos imported in accordance with this section, qualifies as a “Certified” flock. (b) Sheep embryos may be imported under paragraph (a) of this section only if the importer provides the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program identification number of the receiving flock as part of the application for an import permit. (c) Sheep embryos may be imported under paragraph (a)(1) of this section only if they are the progeny of a dam and sire that are part of flocks in the region of origin that participate in a program determined by the Administrator to be equivalent to the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program, and the flocks have been determined by the Administrator to be at a level equivalent to “Certified” in the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program. (d) Sheep embryos may be imported under paragraph (a)(2) of this section only if they are transferred to animals in a Certifiable Class C flock participating in the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program; except, that if the embryos are the progeny of a dam and sire whose flock in the region of origin participates in a program determined by the Administrator to be equivalent to the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program, then the embryos may be placed in a flock in the United States which would be classified at a level equivalent to or lower (i.e., at a greater risk) than the certification level, as determined by the Administrator, of either the flock of the dam or the flock of the sire, whichever one presents the greater risk. (e) The flock to which the sheep embryos are transferred pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of this section must be monitored for scrapie disease until the flock, and all first generation progeny resulting from the embryos imported in accordance with this section, qualifies as a “Certified” flock. (f) Except for sheep embryos being placed in Certifiable Class C flocks, the certificate accompanying sheep embryos imported under paragraph (a) of this section must contain the following statement: “The embryos identified on this certificate are the progeny of a dam and sire that have been monitored by a salaried veterinary officer of [name of region of origin], for [number of months], in the same source flock which had been determined by the Administrator, APHIS, prior to the exportation of these embryos to the United States, to be equivalent to [certification level (of dam or sire) presenting greater risk] of the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program authorized under 9 CFR part 54, subpart B.” (1) The Administrator will determine, based upon information supplied by the importer, whether the flock of the embryos' dam and sire participates in a program in the region of origin that is equivalent to the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program, and if so, at what level the source flock would be classified. (2) In order for the Administrator to make a determination, the importer must supply the following information with the application for an import permit, no less than 1 month prior to the anticipated date of importation: (i) The name, title, and address of a knowledgeable official in the veterinary services of the region of origin; (ii) The details of scrapie control programs in the region of origin, including information on disease surveillance and border control activities and the length of time such activities have been in effect; (iii) Any available information concerning additions, within the 5 years immediately preceding collection of the embryos, to the flock of the embryos' sire and dam; (iv) Any available data concerning disease incidence, within the 5 years immediately preceding collection of the embryos, in the flock of the embryos' sire and dam, including, but not limited to, the results of diagnostic tests, especially histopathology tests, conducted on any animals in the flock; (v) Information concerning the health, within the 5 years immediately preceding collection of the embryos, of other ruminants, flocks, and herds with which the embryos' sire and dam and the flock of the embryos' sire and dam might have had physical contact, and a description of the type and frequency of the physical contact; and (vi) Any other information requested by the Administrator in specific cases as needed to make a determination. (g) All first generation progeny resulting from embryos imported under this section are subject to the requirements of 9 CFR part 54 and all other applicable regulations. [61 FR 17241, Apr. 19, 1996, as amended at 62 FR 56025, Oct. 28, 1997]
Title 9: Animals and Animal Products
PART 98—IMPORTATION OF CERTAIN ANIMAL EMBRYOS AND ANIMAL SEMEN
Subpart A—Ruminant and Swine Embryos from Regions Free of Rinderpest and Foot-and-Mouth Disease; and Embryos of Horses and Asses
§ 98.2 Definitions.
§ 98.3 General conditions.
§ 98.4 Import permit.
§ 98.5 Health certificate.
§ 98.6 Ports of entry.
§ 98.7 Declaration upon arrival.
§ 98.8 Inspection.
§ 98.9 Embryos refused entry.
§ 98.10 Other importations.
§ 98.10a Embryos from sheep in regions other than Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
