Chapter 4.6.

Collection and processing of
porcine semen

Article 4.6.1.

1. The centre should be officially approved by the Veterinary Authority.

2. The centre should be under the direct supervision and sanitary control of an Official Veterinarian.

3. The centre should be under the overall supervision of the Veterinary Authority, which is responsible for routine visits to check the health and welfare of animals, and the procedures and prescribed records at the centre at least every 6 months.

4. Only swine associated with semen production should be permitted to enter the centre. Other species of livestock may exceptionally be resident on the centre, provided that they are kept physically apart from the swine.

5. Swine on the centre should be adequately isolated from farm livestock on adjacent land or buildings for instance by natural or artificial means.

6. The entry of visitors should be strictly controlled. Personnel at a centre should be technically competent and observe high standards of personal hygiene to preclude the introduction of pathogenic organisms. Protective clothing and footwear for use only on the centre should be provided.

7. Individual semen containers and storage rooms should be capable of being disinfected.

Article 4.6.2.

1. Boars should only enter an artificial insemination centre if they fulfil the requirements laid down by the Veterinary Authority.

2. The semen from boars with genetic defects or associated with genetic defects in near relatives may not be eligible for export.

3. Boars must be clinically healthy and physiologically normal and must pass pre-entry tests within the 30 days prior to entry into isolation at an artificial insemination centre. The prescribed diseases and tests are listed in point 2. of Article 4.6.3.

4. Boars must remain in isolation at an artificial insemination centre for a period of at least 30 days before being retested to meet the standards listed in Article 4.6.3. Boars may only enter the stud on the successful completion of these tests and must be clinically healthy.

Article 4.6.3.

1. Definitions

   Prescribed tests cover a minimal range of diseases from which all boars on an artificial insemination centre must be free.

   Routine tests are tests applied at regular intervals to confirm the continued freedom from disease of the stud.

2. Prescribed tests

   1. Bovine tuberculosis

      Boars to give negative results to intradermal tuberculin tests with mammalian tuberculin in accordance with the Terrestrial Manual.

   2. ¹Brucellosis (B. abortus, B. suis)

      Boars to give negative results to serological tests in accordance with the Terrestrial Manual.

3. Routine tests

   1. ¹Swine vesicular disease

      Boars to give negative results to a serum-neutralisation test in accordance with the Terrestrial Manual (see also Articles 15.5.9. and 15.5.10. of this Terrestrial Code).

      Routine tests to be applied at least every 12 months.

   2. ¹African swine fever

      Boars to give negative results to enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay and indirect immunofluorescent tests in accordance with the Terrestrial Manual (see also Articles 15.1.10. and 15.1.11. of this Terrestrial Code).

      Routine tests to be applied at least every 6 months.

   3. ¹Teschovirus encephalomyelitis (ex Enterovirus encephalomyelitis, Teschen disease, Talfan disease)

      Boars to meet certification standards in Articles 15.6.9. or 15.6.10. of this Terrestrial Code.

      Routine tests to be applied at least every 12 months.

Claims of country freedom from some viral and bacterial infections of swine may be given consideration providing such claims are backed by serological survey data and epidemiological investigation.

Article 4.6.4.

Artificial insemination centres may be required by the Veterinary Authority to include in their veterinary prophylactic programmes a number of other diseases, either through vaccination or by requiring negative results to serological tests.

Additionally, some importing countries may require assurances of freedom from a disease (for example: classical swine fever, Aujeszky's disease) based on negative serology or other biological tests. The range of infections to be covered is extensive and beyond the capacity of artificial insemination centres to support totally. Thus, only optional tests remain to be applied and interpreted by bilateral agreement when importation of semen is being considered.

Where a disease is covered by a Chapter in this Terrestrial Code, the testing requirements of the Chapter should be followed.

Records of the progeny of a donor boar should be maintained as far as possible to determine that he is not associated with any genetic defect. The records of the boar should indicate his fertility. The semen must be obtained from a boar with a normal libido.

Article 4.6.5.

Whenever milk, egg yolk or any other animal protein is used in preparing the semen diluent, the product must be free of pathogens or sterilised; milk heat-treated at 92°C for 3-5 minutes, eggs from SPF flocks when available. The inclusion of penicillin, streptomycin, polymixin etc. is permitted, provided that this is declared in the international veterinary certificate.

Article 4.6.6.

The examination of ejaculates, and the dilution and freezing of semen must be carried out in a laboratory maintaining the hygienic standards set by the Veterinary Authority. The pre-sperm fraction should not be included in material to be stored. Only semen of a health standard equivalent to that produced in an artificial insemination centre should be handled.

Semen straws or pellets shall be code marked in line with national standards.

Containers must be sealed before export and accompanied by an international veterinary certificate listing the contents.

---

1. In countries where the diseases marked with an asterisk have not occurred and where country freedom is claimed in accordance with the criteria set out in the relative Chapter of this Terrestrial Code, the pre-entry/post-entry and routine tests may be dispensed with.