14/04/2003 (Agence Europe) - In its adoption of the report by German Social-Democrat Heinz Kindermann, the European Parliament approved, with a few changes, the amendment of the 1988 directive laying down the requirements for sanitary policing applicable to intra-community exchanges and imports of bovine animal semen. The Commission's proposal aims essentially at taking account of new scientific data and new provisions by the International Office of Epizootic Diseases, whilst simplifying various certification procedures. The Parliament's amendments mainly specify the conditions for the circulation of bull semen between the producer, the storage centre and the farm where insemination takes place, with a view to preventing epizootic diseases.