Registration of sperm stations

(1) On and from the date of commencement of this Act, no person shall establish and operate a sperm station for production and storage of semen doses for artificial insemination or production and transfer of embryos without obtaining a certificate of registration from the Authority.

1. (2) Any person who desires to establish and operate a new sperm station, shall make an application for registration or renewal in such form and manner along with such fee, as may be prescribed.
2. (3) The incharge of the existing sperm stations shall apply to the Authority for grant of certificate of registration in such form and manner along with such fee, as may be prescribed, within three months from the date of commencement of this Act. They shall also declare the current stock of semen along with such other details as may be required in the form.
3. (4) Applicants intending to set-up a new sperm station or the existing sperm stations, who have submitted an application form along with prescribed fee to the Authority, shall be issued a provisional certificate of registration to meet the conditions specified in sub-section (6) of this section. The provisional certificate of registration shall be valid for a period of twelve months. It may be extended for a further period of six months on the request of the applicant, in writing. The Authority shall reply within one month about the status of extension.
4. (5) For the grant of certificate of registration for a new sperm station or the existing sperm station, the applicant shall make a written request to the Authority for inspection within the above twelve months or the extended period of six months, whichever applicable. The Authority shall thereupon, send a committee of experts from the consultative panel for such inspection.
5. (6) The Authority, after satisfying itself that,-
   • (a) the sperm station,-
     • (i) has premises for the quarantine of bovine bulls, as may be prescribed by the Authority or the Government of India;
     • (ii) has premises for the rearing and housing of bulls and the collection, processing, quality control, storage, distribution and quarantine of semen doses as may be prescribed by the Authority or the Government of India; and
     • (iii) has premises for the storage of semen doses as may be prescribed by the Authority or the Government of India;
   • (b) every bull, used in the sperm station for production of semen doses,-
     • (i) has tested negative to the tests as may be prescribed by the Authority or the Government of India,-
   • (a) prior to its entry to a quarantine station;
   • (b) during quarantine period at a quarantine station;
   • (c) during rearing at a rearing station; and
   • (d) at the sperm station;
     • (ii) conforms to breed characteristics of the permitted breeds only as may be specified in the breeding policy and meets the minimum standards for various traits in terms of quantity and quality as may be specified by the Authority or the Government of India and as modified and notified from time to time;
   • (c) the sperm station shall maintains accurate details of the bull, whose semen doses it would like to produce, store, sell, distribute or proposes to distribute for artificial Insemination in a format, as may be prescribed; shall grant the certificate of registration to a new sperm station or the existing sperm station clearly specifying the name and address of the sperm station, registration number of the sperm station, unique Identification No. of certified bulls to be used for semen production, name of the incharge of the sperm station and such terms and conditions, as it may deem fit.
6. (7) The certificate of registration granted to sperm station under this section shall be valid for a period of two years from the date of its issue.
7. (8) The incharge of the sperm station shall, in such form and manner along with such fee, as may be prescribed, apply for renewal of registration to the Authority at least three months before the expiry of the certificate of registration. The Authority after satisfying itself that the conditions specified in sub-section (6) with regard to certificate of registration have been adhered to, shall renew the registration for a further period of two years, within three months from the date of receipt of application. If the renewal certificate is not issued within three months, approval shall be deemed to have been accorded, unless communicated otherwise.
8. (9) Any new bovine bull that meets the standards for semen production shall not be inducted in the sperm station for semen production without the prior approval and necessary certification from the Authority. Death/culling of certified bull shall be informed to the Authority.
9. (10) The Authority may, after giving the applicant an opportunity of being heard and for reasons to be recorded in writing, refuse to grant or renew the certificate of registration.
10. (11) The Authority shall send a Committee of experts to inspect a sperm station as and when desired, but at least once in a year, to ensure compliance of the conditions specified in the certificate of registration.