Equine Artificial Insemination (DAFM notice)
Notice to all equine stakeholders involved in Artificial Insemination of equines in Ireland (June 2024)
Background
Semen is regularly used by our equine industry to allow access to a wider variety of stallions and increased genetic diversity which would otherwise be inaccessible due to logistics.
To ensure this is done in a safe manner compliance with EU legislation is vital. For a comprehensive list of relevant legislation please see here
Why is this important?
Ireland is currently free of Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA), Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) and Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM). All these disease could potentially either be brought to Ireland or transmitted within Ireland in infected semen. Any of these diseases entering Ireland would have severe and lasting consequences for both our equine health and welfare but also equine trade.
| Introduction to Ireland | Transmission in Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| EIA |
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| EVA |
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| CEM |
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Illegal importation of semen poses a significant risk to the Irish equine herd
How to know if semen is legally imported?
All semen legally brought into Ireland either from another EU Member State or from a third country (anywhere outside of the EU) needs to be accompanied by the appropriate health certificate, either an Intra-Community Health Certificate if it is from an EU Member State or an equivalent health certificate from a third country. These documents are signed by an Official Veterinarian to certify that the semen was collected and stored according to the the legislation in an EU approved equine semen collection centre (list available on the EU commission page) and that the donor horse fulfilled all the animal health certification criteria. These documents must be kept on file for a minimum of three years. Additionally, all importers of equine semen must be registered with TRACES in order to allow the exporter to complete the export certification process.
What does this mean for you?
All documentation should be checked by the vet prior to insemination. If the documentation is not available for inspection, or there is any doubt about the validity of the paperwork, DO NOT inseminate the mare, and consult your local RVO for further guidance.
Take home message:
You wouldn't inject this without a label -
So, don't insert this without papers -
For further information please contact:
Livestock Breeding Production & Trade Section, Cavan. Tel No (00049) 4368293
Email: livbrsi@agriculture.gov.ie
A comprehensive information note is available on: gov - Animal Breeding (www.gov.ie)
See the International Codes of Practice 2024 for more information on the diseases outlined above.