Guidance

Import of canine and feline semen - Import Information Note (IIN) CFS/1

Updated 22 April 2025

1. General information 

This Import Information Note (IIN) must be read in conjunction with the IIN for general information for imports of live animals and germplasm, which provides information on pre-notifications, veterinary checks, risk categories and more. 

References to European Union (EU) legislation within this document are references to direct EU Legislation which has been assimilated in Great Britain (assimilated direct legislation), as defined in the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 and can be viewed on the United Kingdom (UK) legislation website. 

2. Scope 

To import canine or feline semen into Great Britain (GB) you must either:

• use a general licence for donor animals that comply with the import conditions of Regulation (EU) 576/2013 at the time of collection. This means that the donor animal is eligible to enter GB, except for tapeworm treatment, under that Regulation.
  
  
• apply for a specific licence for donor animals that cannot comply with the import conditions of Regulation (EU) 576/2013. 

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (DDA) prohibits the breeding from certain breeds of dogs that are banned under the Act. You must refer to the DDA before planning an import of canine semen into GB.

The Dangerous Dogs Law - guidance for enforcers (PDF, 161 KB).

3. Procedure 

You can import canine and feline semen in accordance with the general licence provided that you can comply with all the conditions. If you cannot comply with all the conditions of the general licence you should contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Centre for International Trade (CIT) - Imports, Carlisle for an application form for a specific licence (see section 7). 

4. Health conditions for the import of canine and feline semen  

A. The general licence to import dog or cat semen from donors that are compliant with the conditions in Regulation (EU) 576/2013  

(i) The donor animal must be permanently identifiable by a transponder or a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011.

(ii) Immediately before the first collection of semen the donor animal must be scanned for its microchip to check that the number on the microchip complies with the records held for the animal by the veterinary surgeon. The animal must have been identified with a transponder or a clearly readable tattoo before it can be vaccinated against rabies. The rabies vaccination cover must have been maintained by giving boosters before the expiry date of the previous vaccination.  

(iii) If the animal is resident in a listed country then semen can be collected 21 days after the first rabies vaccination or booster where there has been a break in the vaccination cover. 

(iv) In the case of unlisted countries, a blood sample must be taken at least 30 days after the first rabies vaccination or after a booster which is considered a first vaccination due to a lapse in the vaccination cover, and tested at an accredited laboratory in compliance with Regulation (EU) 576/2013. Semen can be collected 3 months after the blood sample provided that the result of the test was satisfactory. 

(v) Immediately before the first collection of semen the donor animal must be subjected to veterinary examination and show no clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease. 

(vi) The semen must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate signed by an authorised veterinary officer of the government giving the following information: 

      a) name and address of the owner of the donor animal

      b) address of the premises at which the semen was collected and processed  

      c) name, species, breed, sex, colour, date of birth and the transponder or a clearly readable tattoo number of the donor animal

      d) a statement confirming that the donor animal complies with the import conditions of Regulation (EU) 576/2013 (with the exception of the treatment for Echinococcus) and is eligible to enter GB under that Regulation at the time of semen collection

      e) dates of collection of the semen to be exported

      f) number of ampoules

      g) the indelible identification marking on the ampoules of semen. 

B. Specific licence to import dog or cat semen into GB from donors that are not compliant with the conditions in Regulation (EU) 576/2013

(i) The donor animal must be permanently identifiable by a transponder, or a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011.

(ii) Immediately before the first collection of semen the donor animal must be scanned for its transponder or a clearly readable tattoo.

(iii) Immediately before the first collection of semen the donor animal must be subjected to a veterinary examination and show no clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease.

(iv) At least 15 days after the collection of semen the donor animal must be subjected to a veterinary examination and show no clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease.

(v) The semen must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate signed by an authorised veterinary officer of the government giving the following information: 

      a) name and address of the owner of the donor animal

      b) address of the premises at which the semen was collected and processed

      c) name, species breed, sex, colour, date of birth and the transponder or a clearly readable tattoo number of the donor animal

      d) dates of collection of the semen to be exported

      e) number of ampoules or straws

      f) indelible identification marking on the ampoules or straws of semen

      g) a statement confirming that the donor animal was examined 15 days or more after the collection of the semen and showed no clinical signs of infectious or contagious disease.  

5. Semen collection and storage requirements

(i) The premises where the semen is collected, processed and stored must be registered with the competent authority of the country of origin. 

(ii) The semen must be consigned in sealed ampoules or straws; each ampoule or straw must be permanently identified and the identification mark of each noted on the veterinary certificate. 

(iii) The sealed ampoules or straws must be kept in a container which is unused or sterile and which does not contain other semen that does not meet the same standards. 

(iv) The sealed ampoules or straws containing the semen must be securely packed in a container; on arrival at the destination address any wrapping must be incinerated and all non-disposal items must be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected. 

6. Northern Ireland (NI) and Crown Dependencies 

Trade movements from NI and Crown Dependencies into GB do not have any animal health requirements.

Find more information about movements from NI to GB 

7. Contact for further information  

For more information about import requirements, contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) imports team:

Centre for International Trade - Carlisle
Eden Bridge House
Lowther Street
Carlisle
CA3 8DX

Email: imports@apha.gov.uk 

Telephone: 03000 200 301