S.L. 437.99 ст. 7Admission of semen from Member States subject to an animal health certificate. 7

(1) The competent authority shall make the admission of semen from other Member States subject to an animal health certificate drawn up by the official veterinarian in such Member

State in accordance with Schedule IV.

(2) This certificate shall:

(a) be drawn up in at least one of the official languages of the Member State of collection and one of those of the Member State of destination;

(b) accompany the consignment to its destination in its original form;

(c) be drawn up on a single sheet of paper; and

(d) be made out to a single consignee.

(3) The competent authority, where Malta is the Member State of destination may:

(a) prohibit the admission of consignments if a documentary check or health certificate reveals that rule 4 has not been observed; S.L.437.99 ANIMALS OF THE BOVINE SPECIES [

(b) take the necessary measures, including storage in quarantine, in order to obtain definite proof in cases where semen is suspected of being infected or contaminated by pathogenic organisms.

(4) Decisions taken under sub-rule (3)(a) or (b) shall, at the request of the consignor or his representative, authorise the return of the semen, provided this is not contrary to considerations of animal health.

(5) If the admission of semen has been prohibited on any of the grounds set out in sub-rule (3)(a) and (b) and the Member State of collection does not within thirty days authorise the return of the semen, the competent authority may order it to be destroyed.

(6) Except in the case of the granting of an authorisation, a decision taken by the competent authority under sub-rules (3) and (5), including refusal or destruction of semen, shall be communicated to the consignor or his representative, and shall be fully reasoned and be open to challenge before the Appeals Board.