Notice on Quarantine and Health Requirements for buffalo embryos imported from Pakistan

　　According to China’s relevant laws and regulations and the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the islamic republic of Pakistan national food security and research about the People’s Republic of China from the islamic republic of Pakistan input of buffalo embryo quarantine protocol and health conditions, from the date of this announcement, allowed to meet the requirements of the relevant Pakistan buffalo embryo import:

　　I. Basis for inspection and quarantine

　　(1) Biosafety Law of the People’s Republic of China.

　　(2) Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Entry and Exit Animal and Plant Quarantine and Regulations for its implementation.

　　(3) Protocol between the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the State Department of Food Security and Research of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Quarantine and Sanitary Conditions of Buffalo Embryos Imported from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

　　II. Names of permitted imported commodities

　　The buffalo embryos mentioned in this announcement refer to the embryos produced by in vitro insemination through oocytes collected from living buffalo ovaries in a production unit registered by both China and Pakistan in Pakistan.

　　III. Quarantine examination and approval requirements

　　The National Food Security and Research Department of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (hereinafter referred to as the “Pakistani side”) shall carry out quarantine on buffalo embryos exported to China on the basis of the “Permit of the People’s Republic of China for Quarantine of Entry Animals and Plants” issued by the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the “Chinese Side”). Only one batch of buffalo embryos can be imported per entry buffalo embryo quarantine permit.

　　IV. Registration requirements for production units in Pakistan

　　The Chinese side may send animal quarantine officials to inspect the oocyte collection centers, semen production centers and embryo processing sites recommended by the Pakistani side for registration.

　　Oocytes, semen and embryos shall be produced in the oocyte collection centers, semen production centers and embryo processing sites registered by both China and Pakistan. Pakistani production units may export buffalo embryos to China within the validity period of registration.

　　V. Requirements of Animal health status in Pakistan

　　Within 50 km of and around the farm where the donor cows, sperm bulls and test animals were located, rinderpest, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, bovine infectious pleuropneumonitis, PeR petit ruminant, bluetongue, bovine nodular dermatosis, vesicular stomatitis and Rift Valley fever have been free in the past 3 years.

　　VI. Donor animal health requirements

　　Donor cows, sperm bulls and test animals must:

　　(1) having a unique, persistent discriminating ear number that can be traced back to the oocyte, semen and embryo produced.

　　(2) The farm is under the regional management of FMD under the supervision of the Pakistani side and complies with the requirements of the Memorandum of Requirements of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of National Food Security and Research of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on FMD Immunization Free Areas.

　　(3) Carry out planned monitoring of the following animal epidemics by means of clinical observation or laboratory testing on the farm where they are located: Bluetongue, bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, bovine tuberculosis epidemic leukemia, deputy, hemorrhagic septicaemia, barber trypanosomiasis, trichomoniasis, fetal campylobacteriosis, bovine viral diarrhea/mucosal disease, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, Q fever, leptospira, vesicular stomatitis, rift valley fever and peste-des-petits ruminants and cattle nodular skin diseases. The Chinese side may review the implementation of the monitoring plan and the report of test results.

　　In case of the above diseases, the positive animals should be removed from the farm immediately, and the oocytes, semen and embryos concerned should not be exported to China.

　　(4) He has been kept in a registered oocyte collection center or semen production center within 3 months before the collection of eggs or sperm, and has been tested at least once for the diseases listed in the Annex, and the results are negative.

　　(5) Within 24 hours before egg or sperm collection, there is no sign of infectious disease confirmed by the official veterinary clinical examination of the Pakistani side.

　　VII. Hygienic requirements for embryo production

　　(1) Oocytes, semen and embryos shall be collected and processed according to the methods recommended by the Handbook of the International Society for Embryo Transfer (IETS) and according to the standards approved by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

　　(2) A buffalo embryo must:

　　1. Take appropriate measures to ensure that they are not contaminated by pathogenic microorganisms during processing, freezing, transportation and storage;

　　2. Ensure that the biological components of the buffalo embryo production system (including inactive oocytes/embryos, relevant culture media, rinses, cultured cells and animal-derived biological products, etc.) are not contaminated by pathogenic microorganisms;

　　3. Embryos should be washed at least 10 times, each time with a dilution of 100 times, and then washed twice with a rinsing solution containing 0.25% trypsin and pH value of 7.6-7.8. Embryos should be immersed in trypsin for a total of 60-90 seconds, and a new sterilized pipette should be used to transfer embryos in each cleaning.

　　4. Only embryos from the same donor can be washed together, and no more than 10 embryos can be washed at a time;

　　5. Observe the zona pellucida on the whole surface of the embryo under a microscope of more than 50 times to ensure that it is intact and without adhesion;

　　6. Use vitrification to freeze and store.

　　VIII. Requirements for embryo storage and seal

　　(1) Buffalo embryos exported shall be placed in refrigerated containers. Refrigerated containers shall be sealed and marked according to the method recommended in the IETS manual or equivalent.

　　(2) Before allowing the export of buffalo embryos, they shall be stored in embryo processing sites approved by both China and Pakistan.

　　IX. Quarantine Certificate requirements

　　For those who pass the quarantine inspection, the Pakistani side shall issue the quarantine certificate according to the sample certificate confirmed by both sides.

Article source：The General Administration of Customs