
Hi
I imported semen from Australia in 2004.
I needed an import licence from DEFRA - no charge for that. Semen collections need to be undertaken for export and meet current DEFRA regs with regard to method of freezing/ storage of semen etc etc
From Australia there was no problem with rabies status and I could import semen without a quarentine period however I believe collected semen would have to be held in the USA for 6mths to ensure the dog was rabies clear before semen is shipped. Your vet/ defra would be able to give accurate info.
I paided for the collection agreed a stud fee on no pups free return basis. (I imported enough semen for 4 attempts)
Shipping from Australia was organised for me by Gene Movers and I purchased a dry shipper from them as this worked out more cost effective than paying to fly the hire shipper back to Oz, especiially as I sold the shipper here in the UK.
Gene movers organised the flight from Oz, insurance and exprot certificates etc .
A huge hidden costs I hadn't anticipated was the cost of courier collection of the semen from the airport to the vet .. I would look at collecting myself if I was to import semen again. This cost was almost as much as the flight from Oz !!!!
The recieving vet here in the uk will have a handling charge for accepting reciept of the semen, you must also add the storage fees until used.
In my case in 2004 the total costs were approx £2211.00 just to get the semen here.... We tried twice with AI and failed on both attempts taking eventual costs for 0 pups to approx £3000.00 ;((
Karen