Division 2 Storage centres must:F1

be so supervised that a record is kept of all movement of semen (in and out the centre) and of the status of the donor bulls whose semen is stored there, and which must comply with the requirements of this Directive;

be regularly inspected by an official veterinarian, at least twice a year, in the context of the standing checks on the conditions of approval and supervision;

be so supervised that the entry of unauthorised persons is prevented. Furthermore, authorised visitors must be required to comply with the conditions laid down by the centre veterinarian;

employ technically competent staff suitably trained in disinfection procedures and hygiene techniques relevant to the control of the spread of disease;

be so supervised that:

1. (i)

   only semen collected at collection centres approved in accordance with this Directive is stored in approved storage centres, without coming into contact with any other semen.

   In addition, only semen coming from an approved collection or storage centre and transported in conditions offering every possible health guarantee, having had no contact with any other semen, may be brought into an approved storage centre.

   Deep-frozen embryos may also be stored in approved centres provided that:

   • such storage is authorised by the competent authority,

   • the embryos meet the requirements of Council Directive 89/556/EEC of 25 September 1989 on animal health conditions governing intra-Community trade in and importation from third countries of embryos of domestic animals of the bovine species,

   • the embryos are stored in separate storage containers in the premises for storing approved semen;

2. (ii)

   storage of semen takes place only on the premises set aside for the purpose and under the strictest conditions of hygiene;

3. (iii)

   all instruments which come into contact with the semen are properly disinfected or sterilised prior to use, except for single-use instruments;

4. (iv)

   storage containers and transport containers are either properly disinfected or sterilised before the commencement of each filling operation, except for single-use containers;

5. (v)

   the cryogenic agent used has not been previously used for other products of animal origin;

6. (vi)

   each individual dose of semen is clearly marked in such a way that the date of collection of the semen, the breed and identification of the donor animal and the approval number of the collection centre can be readily established; each Member State shall communicate to the Commission and other Member States the characteristics and form of the marking used in its territory.