Community Provisions (Bovine Embryos) (Jersey) Regulations 201-

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A decision made 16 August 2010 regarding: Community Provisions (Bovine Embryos) (Jersey) Regulations 201-.

Decision Reference: MD-PE-2010-0090
Decision Summary Title:	Community Provisions (Bovine Embryos) (Jersey) Regulations 201-	Date of Decision Summary:	12/08/2010
Decision Summary Author (Job Title):	States Veterinary Officer	Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written	Person Giving Oral Report:
Written Report Title:	Community Provisions (Bovine Embryos) (Jersey) Regulations 201-	Date of Written Report:	12/08/2010
Written Report Author (Job Title):	States Veterinary Officer	Written Report : Public or Exempt?
Subject: Regulations enabling administration and enforcement of EU legislation governing trade in bovine embryos
Decision(s): The Minister has decided to lodge the draft Regulations au Greffe for States debate at the earliest opportunity
Reason(s) for Decision: To fulfil Jersey’s obligations under Protocol 3 and enable trade in bovine embryos to take place.

Resource Implications: No additional resource required by Planning and Environment Department
Action required: SVO to lodge au Greffe
Signature:		Position:
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):
Version:	V

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Community Provisions (Bovine Embryos) (Jersey) Regulations 201-

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT

ENVIRONMENT DIVISION

Community Provisions (Bovine Embryos) (Jersey) Regulations 201-

(Public)

Purpose of the Report

To assist business growth in the dairy industry and underpin Jersey’s international reputation for integrity and to introduce legislation enabling development of trade in bovine embryos compliant with EU standards.

Background

Export of pedigree Jersey cattle from the island to many countries worldwide was an important trade between the mid nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Trade dwindled from the 1970s as improvements to breed productivity achieved in the recipient countries could not be matched locally because insufficient numbers from which to select only allowed relatively limited progress .

Additionally, advances in techniques for artificial breeding has changed the world trade pattern and very few live cattle are now transported over long distances because genetic material, semen and embryos, can be traded more safely and more efficiently.

To enable Jersey’s dairy farmers to benefit from improvements in both productivity and conformation, the States voted for legislative change in 2008 to permit the import of bovine semen, subject to internationally agreed disease control measures. With approximately 80% of cow inseminations in the island by artificial insemination, and approximately 80% of these using imported semen, the industry’s uptake is significant.

Legislative changes permitting import and export of genetic material is part of a suite of measures, agreed by the dairy industry, to be put in place to achieve increased efficiency and profitability enabling a move away from the historic levels of taxpayer support.

Discussion

Trade Opportunities

In May 2008, the World Jersey Cattle Bureau Conference was held in the island and attended by delegates from all major dairying countries in the world. The conference included visits to farms where local cattle were appraised by world class breeders and particular cow families were identified for embryo collection and export.

Following the Conference and subsequently the import of bovine semen, the Royal Jersey Agriculture and Horticulture Society has received enquiries for bovine embryos from several countries, including Argentina and New Zealand. As Jersey does not have the legal framework to enable export, some of the prospective buyers are known to be considering the option of buying embryos from island cows which have been exported to UK.

Legislative Requirements

Jersey is obliged to implement animal health and veterinary legislation for trade in animals and animal products with EU Member States, as set out in Protocol 3 to the Act of Accession of the United Kingdom to the European Communities 1972.

In order to trade bovine embryos in EU Member States, compliance with the requisite Directive must be implemented and enforced. This is equivalent to the Directive governing trade in bovine semen.

Council Directive 89/556/EEC lays down the standards for collection, processing and storing bovine embryos, including

· personnel carrying out the procedures

· health status of donors and semen

· laboratory facilities

· disinfection of equipment including storage and transport flasks

· source or treatment of products of animal origin and media

· cryogenic agent

· washing, identifying, examining and freezing embryos

· premises in which procedures are carried out

to achieve and maintain specified health requirements. The requirements are subject to official approval and control and verified by veterinary certification when trade takes place.

The standards are applicable to imports and exports between Member States and for imports from third countries. Imports from third countries can only take place through specific entry points and are subject to veterinary checks to verify compliance with the standards, before release for trade in the Community. Embryos which do not meet the requirements are not imported. The entry points themselves are subject to official approval and control.

Complying with the Directive to enable trade with EU Member States, will also enable trade with many third countries which have adopted Directive compliance as the condition for import to their territories. To enable export of bovine embryos from Jersey to third countries, the standards described above and laid down in the Directive must be achieved.

Financial and Staffing Implications

Any business wishing to operate an embryo collection and storage will be required to pay full cost recovery for official inspections and approvals or employ a suitably qualified and approved individual for a private assessment. No additional States staffing requirement is identified.

Conclusion

The Regulations provide the necessary legal framework to fulfil Jersey’s obligation under Protocol 3 and enable Jersey farmers to trade in bovine embryos,

Recommendation

The Regulations are lodged au Greffe.

Written by: States Veterinary Officer

Approved by: Director for Environment

Attachments:

Community Provisions (Bovine Embryos) (Jersey) Regulations 201-

Ministerial Decision ref: MD-PE-2009-XXXX