RISK ANALYSIS AND INTERNATIONAL-TRADE PRINCIPLES APPLIED TO THE IMPORTATION INTO CANADA OF CAPRINE EMBRYOS FROM SOUTH-AFRICA

Between November 1994 and February 1995 over nine thousand Beer goat e mbryos were imported into Canada from the Republic of South Africa. Th is substantial international movement of animal genetics via embryos w as achieved through the application of the risk analysis principles pr escribed in Section 1.4. of the International Animal Health Code of th e Office International des Epizooties (OIE). integral to the developme nt of the health certification procedures was the application of the f undamental principles of nondiscrimination, harmonisation, equivalence and transparency defined in the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures. Risk mitigation interventions we re founded upon full consideration of the potential for disease transm ission by animal embryos as espoused by the International Embryo Trans fer Society and the relevant standards contained in Appendix 4.2.3.3. of the OIE International Animal Health Code. All the embryos imported into Canada were implanted into synchronised recipients on arrival. Tw enty months later there has been no evidence of disease in either the recipient animals or the resulting animals born in Canada.