15 October 2025: Lumpy skin disease in Italy and France: Rules for importing bovine germinal products (semen, ova and embryos)
Updated 10 November 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/official-veterinary-surgeon-ovs-notes/15-october-2025-lumpy-skin-disease-in-italy-and-france-rules-for-importing-bovine-germinal-products-semen-ova-and-embryos
OVS note number: 2025/71
Date: 15 October 2025
Purpose
To notify that bovine germinal products collected in France and Italy before the closing dates defined in the relevant third country lists are now eligible for import into Great Britain (GB) provided all other import conditions can be met.
To provide guidance on triangular trade of bovine germinal products within the EU considering that the country of dispatch could be different to the country of collection.
Background
Italy confirmed its first case of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) on 21 June 2025 on a cattle farm in Sardinia. Further information is found in the WAHIS report.
France confirmed its first case of LSD on 29 June 2025 on a cattle farm in Chambéry. Further information is found in the WAHIS report.
Subsequently, Spain confirmed its first case of LSD on 3 October 2025 on a cattle farm in Girona. Further information is found in the WAHIS report.
As a result of these outbreaks, imports of bovine germinal products (semen, ova and embryos) from France, Italy and Spain were temporarily suspended through amendment to the relevant third country lists (see OVS notes 2025/44 and 2025/48 and 2025/52 and 2025/67).
Approved germinal product storage centres in LSD-free EU member states may be storing bovine germinal products collected in LSD-affected EU member states (such as Italy, France and Spain), which may appear to be eligible for import into GB. Conversely, approved germinal product storage centres in LSD-affected EU member states may be storing bovine germinal products collected in other LSD-free EU member states, which may appear to be ineligible for import into GB.
Changes to import requirements
Following an assessment, imports into GB of bovine germinal products collected in Italy and France are now conditional on the date of collection. A closing date of 6 months prior to the confirmation of the LSD outbreaks in each country has been applied to the bovine semen and bovine embryos third country lists for Italy and France’s entries. The closing date for Italy is 21 December 2024 and the closing date for France is 29 December 2024.
Please note that no closing date has been applied for germinal products collected in Spain and restrictions remain as outlined in OVS note 2025/67.
Respective closing dates are published in the list of trading partners approved to export bovine semen and bovine embryos, through the application of footnote ‘c’ to France’s entries and footnote ‘d’ to Italy’s entries. This means that bovine germinal products collected on or after the above dates in the respective countries are prohibited, but bovine germinal products collected before these dates are permitted.
Bovine germinal products collected in Italy and France, stored in and dispatched from these countries or other EU member states
Bovine germinal products collected in France and Italy, either stored in and dispatched from these countries or stored in and dispatched from other EU member states, may only be imported into GB if the dates of collection are recorded on the certificate as being prior to the closing dates in the bovine semen and bovine embryos listings.
Bovine germinal products collected in LSD-free EU member states that are stored in and dispatched from LSD-affected EU member states
Bovine germinal products collected in LSD-free EU member states but stored and dispatched from LSD-affected EU member states (such as Italy, France or Spain) m ay only be imported into GB if the requirements of the relevant health certificate are complied with and are not affected by the closing dates mentioned above.
Bovine germinal products transiting through LSD-affected EU member states
Transits through LSD-affected EU member states (such as Italy, France and Spain) to GB of bovine germinal products collected at authorised originating from other listed countries that are LSD-free are permitted.
Actions for OVSs
To verify the country and date of collection of bovine germinal products imported into GB based on information on the accompanying import health certificate, particularly those imported on storage certificates.
To refuse entry into GB of bovine germinal products collected in Italy or France on or after the closing dates set out in the relevant third country lists.
Contact point for enquiries
Email: imports@apha.gov.uk
Imports and EU Trade Team