The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD) on May 17, 2023, published the Minimum Standard Protocol for Semen Stations for Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases through Semen Rules, 2023 to further amend the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Act, 2009
These Rules shall come into force on May 17, 2023
The following has been amended namely: -
• It has defined various definitions such as “artificial insemination”, “biosecurity”, “disease prevention protocol”, “quarantine” etc.
• It states that the Central Government shall specify disease prevention protocol and disease testing protocol for bovine bulls available at all semen stations in the territory of India.
• It states that the Central Government shall nominate experts to visit the semen stations to verify the implementation of disease prevention protocol and disease testing protocol for bulls available at semen stations.
• It states that the Central Government shall prepare an online portal to submit requests for testing of disease the bulls as per diseases listed under the Act, to conduct tests in the labs that have been already identified and notified
• It states that The State Government, Department of Animal Husbandry shall direct all the semen stations to undertake testing of the bulls through the labs notified by the Central Government as mentioned in Annexure-1
• It states that the State Government, Department of Animal Husbandry shall register all semen stations operating under their jurisdiction only after obtaining recommendations from experts nominated by the Central Government and satisfying that bulls available at semen stations are free from all diseases as listed under the Act and following biosecurity standards as mentioned in Annexure-2
• It states that the State Government, Department of Animal Husbandry shall treat all unregistered semen stations as ‘infected areas’ under section 20, of the Act and take action against them as specified under that Act.
• Form- A specifies the Application for registration or renewal of registration of Semen Stations under the Minimum Standard Protocol for Semen Stations for Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases through Semen Rules, 2023.
• Form- B specifies the Certificate of Registration of Semen Station under the Minimum Standard Protocol for Semen Stations for Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases through Semen, Rules, 2023.
• Annexure 1 and Annexure- 2 have been attached to the document.
[Notification No. G.S.R 370(E)]
