. /.RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/W/96
23 November 1998
(98-4686)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
PROCEDURE TO MONITOR THE PROCESS
OF INTERNATIONAL HARMONIZATION
Submission by the European Communities
In accordance with paragraph 6 of the provisional procedure to monitor the use of international
standards (G/SPS/11), the European Communities pr oposes that the Committee consider the attached
issue.
_______________G/SPS/W/96
Page 2
PROCEDURE TO MONITOR THE PROCESS
OF INTERNATIONAL HARMONIZATION
Submission by the European Communities
Commodities affected: Bovine semen
Disease/problem/issue: Frequency of controls to be carried out on bulls
in collection centres (brucellosis, tuberculosis,leucosis, IBR).
Is international trade significantly affected
because of this issue?Yes
Does there currently exist an international
standard for this disease/problem/issue with
these commodities?Yes
If so:
Briefly describe the existing standard: Articles 3.2.1.4, 3.2.3.7, 3.2.4.4 and 3.2.5.7
and Appendix 4.2.1.1 of the International
Animal Health Code.
Is the international standard inappropriate? Yes, insofar as there is an inconsistency.
Description of how trade is affected by this issue and how the issue can be resolved through
new or existing international standards:
Semen collection is carried out before the final destination of the semen is determined.  In this
field, serological tests must be carried out before the collection.  This constraint is all the more
difficult to manage as bulls used for artificial insemination are usually tested on descendants and a
minimum of four to five years is necessary to carry out these tests.  It is only at the end of the
period of testing that the commercial and genetic value of the semen could be known and the
possibilities of trade envisaged.
It is important to harmonize this field as completely as possible in order to avoid the additional
requirements by importing countries.
The absence of consistency between the provisions of the annex concerning bovine semen and
those of articles concerning the relevant diseases is the cause of disparities in requests by
importing countries.  While the articles are ambiguous regarding the frequency of the tests to be
carried out, the appendix recommends annual reviews.
Insofar as the Code in its Appendix 4.2.1.1 recommends that semen come from bulls of
insemination centres that benefit from health isolation measures, the control frequency
recommended in the chapters specific to each diseas e should take account of this characteristic and
allow more homogeneous interpretation of this point.  This is all the more important as the
diseases in question are covered by the International Animal Health Code, where the frequency of
controls is already established.
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