Discussion

During the last decade ever increasing quantities of equine semen have moved across national borders and in particularly across the English Channel in both directions, both chilled and frozen. Technological advancements have allowed a growing proportion of stallions' semen to be successfully frozen, whilst the 'chilled' European market has suffered from problems associated with transportation and timing. As a result the proportion of frozen semen being imported and exported within the EU is rapidly surpassing that of chilled. The UK is several years behind most European countries in terms of making the most efficient use of artificial insemination (AI), however despite this transported semen is on the increase. Therefore, without strict adherence to the regulations made mandatory by the European Commission the risk of outbreaks of zoonosis and epizooties within the UK will certainly increase.

Disease transmission:
Adequate safeguards are in place preventing the spread of disease within the EU, providing the guidelines and documentations are adhered to. In this case artificial insemination of equines may be seen as less of a threat for disease transfer than natural covering. However, if the system is abused the reverse is true. The risk is of course not just to the AI industry, but to all horses.
The movement of equine semen across borders potentially increases the risk of conveying contagious diseases from one country to another. The 3 focal diseases currently tested for within the EU are Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA), Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) and Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM); stallions must be tested at licensed quarantine centres before semen can move legally between EU countries. Mainland Europe has few physical barriers between nation states and consequently the movement of semen has been quite relaxed. EVA is endemic as a result. The UK and Ireland (having a sea barrier) have virtually no EVA or CEM and it is of vital importance that the UK's 'health status' is maximised using those natural barriers.
It is thought that the current condition in mainland Europe where EVA is endemic will soon be the scenario in the UK. A bleak prospect, however Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) provides the architecture required preventing such epizooties, it is the only supranational network in the world working at a continental scale of 27 countries and almost 500 million people. Therefore, providing the veterinary profession and Defra can enforce the regulations it is possible to minimise any great risk.

Trade control and expert system:
TRACES was set up in 2004 and is an integrated web-based veterinary system, maintained by the European Commission
'Health and Consumer Protection Directorate General', networking veterinary authorities and business users in all Member States.
TRACES provides electronic, veterinary and sanitary certificates which are mandatory with consignments during import and movement in the EU. These certificates accompany semen shipments as they travel to and through the EU. All semen arriving and leaving the UK MUST be accompanied by the original completed and signed Intra Trade Animal Health Certificates (ITAHC), photocopies or fax copies are not acceptable.

Three separate ITAHCs exist to accompany equine semen throughout the EU. The certificate applied for is dependent upon the Origin of the semen and the date at which it was collected.
- Part A Certificates apply to all chilled and frozen equine
semen collected after September 2010, being exported from the centre of origin.
- Part B Certificates apply to all equine semen frozen before
September 2010, being exported from the centre of origin.
- Part C Certificates apply to all equine frozen semen being exported from a different centre or country than that of origin.

ITAHCs may be applied for up to 30 days before shipping and remain valid for 10 days from signing.
It is equally the responsibility of the importer as the exporter, to be aware of the differences between these ITAHC's and to ensure that semen being imported into the UK has been imported correctly, therefore minimising the transfer of disease and increasing the traceability of equine semen.
Traceability is the fundamental element of the TRACES system, it allows instantaneous traceability on any animal or animal product importation or movement within the EU should a problem or outbreak occur.

Difficulties employing the TRACES system:
There are issues hindering the correct and proper use of the TRACES system within the European chilled import/export market, most commonly the problem is that ITAHCs in mainland Europe must be signed by a government/state veterinarian. Government veterinarians can often be several hours away from the stud, therefore creating logistical problems when shipping chilled semen that is time critical. As a result of this chilled semen is being transported illegally within the EU, unaccompanied by original ITAHCs therefore the health status of the semen remaining unknown.
So whilst stud veterinarians endeavour to allow as much notice as possible when ordering chilled semen from outside the UK, obtaining a signature and stamp often remains difficult. Although the movement of frozen semen is governed by these exact restrictions, the same concerns regarding timing do not apply.
The final model for the TRACES system has not yet been fully implemented, and the future plans are promising. The next stage is to make the entire system, from movement application to destination fully on line. This step would change the way we import and export semen within the EU by creating traceability on line instantaneously.
There is a responsibility to ensure that the regulations are observed by veterinarians and AI technicians. Inseminating semen that is unaccompanied by an ITAHC is not only a dubious risk assessment but a violation of the law. As the importers of equine semen, we have little if any idea of the standards of specific overseas studs from which semen is sent. Inseminating illegally imported semen from studs which are not disease conscious, and possibly under financial pressure, will do irreparable harm to our island status, a golden asset which we must preserve.