The following article is presented here courtesy of, and with permission from Equine-Reproduction.com. It may not be reused without permission being obtained from them. For more information on breeding or current updates on the CEM situation in the USA, please visit Equine-Reproduction.com.

Steps for Shipping Equine Semen to Canada During the Current CEM Restrictions
By Jos Mottershead and Kathy St. Martin, Equine-Reproduction.com

It should be noted that while this article is correct at the time of going to press (April 2010), the regulations may change at any given time. You are therefore advised to confirm currency of all information and forms contained herein with CFIA and/or USDA prior to collection and shipment of semen. This is a guide only and should not be taken as definitive. Current regulations can be obtained through the Canadian Automated Import Reference System

Importation of semen from the USA to Canada is not insurmountable with the new regulations - indeed, they are essentially the same as the "old" regulations that were in place before the border opened to semen movement about 10 years ago - but they may prove impossible for some who want to ship cooled semen because of time-lines. The steps are as follows:

• The mare owner applies to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for an import permit. We have the current application available for downloading on our web site here (note that it is quite a large file at 552 Kb, so you will want a reasonably fast connection), and addenda with explanations and costs for semen and embryo importation at those locations. It would be best to confirm with CFIA that these forms are still current if someone is reading this in the more distant future!
• Upon receipt of the import permit, it must be sent to the stallion owner/manager to accompany the semen at time of shipment. If it is a multiple-entry permit (which we recommend with fresh semen in case of the need for a rebreed, even though it is more expensive), then a copy can accompany the semen shipment, but the original must be available for review by CFIA/CBSA (Canada Border Services Agency - formerly "Canada Customs") if requested. Note that if a single-entry permit is obtained the original must accompany the shipment, which means that the original must be sent to the stallion farm prior to semen being collected and shipped. With a multiple-entry permit, it can be faxed or scanned and e-mailed to the stallion farm, a faster and more convenient process;
• The semen is collected in the presence of a veterinarian certified by USDA-Aphis for the purpose (this is typically your normal vet), and they must issue a "Zoosanitary Export Certificate for Semen" that certifies as outlined at the foot of this list;
• That "Zoosanitary Export Certificate for Semen" is taken to a USDA-Aphis office for endorsement by the Federal Vet. USDA charge $74 for this endorsement;
• A Customs Invoice must be completed and accompany the shipment - they are currently available on-line here;
• Semen presented for importation into Canada must be in individual receptacles or straws, each marked with the collection date, identity of the donor and the semen collection premises;
• The semen is shipped.

1. The donor stallion(s) have not been on a premises where T.equigenitalis has been isolated during the 60 days immediately preceding collection of the semen for export to Canada or a premises currently under quarantine or investigation for CEM.
2. The semen was processed using an extender that contains antibiotics effective against T.equigenitalis.
3. The semen is in individual receptacles or straws, each marked with the collection date, identity of the donor and the semen collection premises.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING FOUNDATION APPROVED P.R.E. INSCRIPTION VETS: Please be informed that as of April 1, 2008 Approved P.R.E. Inscription Vet status for veterinarians listed on The Foundation website www.prehorse.org is applicable only to the Foundation’s P.R.E. Mundial Registry, and is valid only for completion of P.R.E. Mundial Registry paperwork.