Division 1 F1

For all ovine and caprine animals admitted to a semen collection centre the following requirements shall apply:

1. 1.1.

   they have been kept in quarantine for a period of at least 28 days in accommodation specifically approved for the purpose by the competent authority, and where only animals having at least the same health status are present (quarantine accommodation);

2. 1.2.

   prior to their stay in the quarantine accommodation, they have belonged to an officially brucellosis-free ovine or caprine holding pursuant to Article 2 of Directive 91/68/EEC and they shall not be previously kept in a holding of a lower health status as regards brucellosis;

3. 1.3.

   they come from a holding where during the 60 days prior to their stay in the quarantine accommodation they have undergone a serological test for contagious epidydimitis ( B. ovis ) carried out in accordance with Annex D to Directive 91/68/EEC or any other test with an equivalent documented sensitivity and specificity;

4. 1.4.

   they have undergone the following tests carried out on a blood sample collected within the 28 days preceding the commencement of the period of quarantine specified in point 1.1, with negative results in each case, except for the test for Border disease referred to in point (c)(ii):

   1. (a)

      for brucellosis ( B. melitensis ), a serological test carried out in accordance with Annex C to Directive 91/68/EEC;

   2. (b)

      for contagious epidydimitis ( B. ovis ), a serological test carried out in accordance with Annex D to Directive 91/68/EEC, or any other test with an equivalent documented sensitivity and specificity;

   3. (c)

      for Border disease:

      1. (i)

         a virus isolation test or a test for virus antigen; and

      2. (ii)

         a serological test to determine the presence or absence of antibodies (antibody test).

   The competent authority may authorise that the tests referred to in this point are carried out on samples collected in the quarantine accommodation. If such authorisation is granted, the period of quarantine referred to in point 1.1 shall not commence before the date of sampling. However, if any of the tests referred to in this point prove positive, the animal concerned shall be immediately removed from the quarantine accommodation. In the event of group isolation, the quarantine period referred to in point 1.1 shall not commence for the remaining animals until the animal which tested positive has been removed;

5. 1.5.

   they have undergone the following tests carried out on samples taken during the period of quarantine specified in point 1.1, and at least 21 days after being admitted to the quarantine accommodation, with negative results:

   1. (a)

      for brucellosis ( B. melitensis ), a serological test carried out in accordance with Annex C to Directive 91/68/EEC;

   2. (b)

      for contagious epidydimitis ( B. ovis ), a serological test carried out in accordance with Annex D to Directive 91/68/EEC, or any other test with an equivalent documented sensitivity and specificity;

6. 1.6.

   they have undergone the tests for Border disease referred in points 1.4(c)(i) and (ii) carried out on the blood samples taken during the period of quarantine specified in point 1.1, and at least 21 days after being admitted to the quarantine accommodation.

   Any animal (seronegative or seropositive) shall only be allowed entry to the semen collection centre if no sero-conversion occurs in animals which tested seronegative before the day of entry into the quarantine accommodation.

   If sero-conversion occurs, all animals that remain seronegative shall be kept in quarantine over a prolonged time, until there is no more sero-conversion in the group for a period of three weeks from the day the sero-conversion occurred.

   Serologically positive animals shall be allowed entry into the semen collection centre subject to a negative result in a test referred in point 1.4(c)(i).