Animal
Health and Welfare Strategy indicators:
core indicator 2.3
Trade in breeding animals
Indicators are available in downloadable Adobe Acrobat 
format on request - For queries or information on this indicator contact Defra’s animal health and welfare statistics on + 44 (0) 1904 455098 or email ahw.stats@defra.gsi.gov.uk.
| Vision: Our disease status is amongst the highest in the world and we are able to trade our animals and animal products internationally. |
- Animal Health and Welfare Strategy – indicator fact sheet
- Animal Health and Welfare Strategy – indicator data sheet
Core indicator 2.3: Trade in breeding animals - indicator fact sheet
| Indicator | Balance of trade in bovine semen as a proxy measure for trade in breeding animals. |
| Data | Import and export value data. |
| Geographic coverage | United Kingdom |
| Years | 1988 to 2006 |
| Source | Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) |
| Origin of data | Data collected by HMRC. |
| Updates | This indicator was first published in November 2006 and will be updated on an annual basis as data become available. |
| Background | Overseas trade statistics are compiled from returns made to HMRC by importers and exporters. Before the completion of the Single Market in the EC at the end of 1992, all UK overseas trade data was compiled from Customs declarations made by traders. However, since the beginning of 1993, the collection of trade statistics has been divided into two categories: that transacted between the UK and countries outside the EC (extra-EC trade), and that between the UK and its EC partners (intra-EC trade). Extra-EC trade statistics are compiled, as before, from Customs declarations by importers, exporters and their agents; intra-EC trade statistics are compiled using a system linked to traders’ VAT returns, known as Intrastat. Intrastat applies, with minor variations, to all EC Member States. In the UK all VAT-registered businesses are required to declare the total value of their supplies of goods to customers in other Member States (dispatches) and the total value of acquisitions of goods from suppliers in other Member States (arrivals). Traders whose annual value of arrivals or dispatches exceeds given “assimilation” thresholds (currently £221,000) are required to provide a supplementary declaration each month giving full details of these transactions. |
| Statistical & methodological information | Overseas trade statistics are compiled from returns made to HMRC by importers and exporters. The data are reliable for comparisons across time periods to be made, although any illegal trade will not be recorded in these statistics. |
| Further information | Further information on HMRC can be found at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/bse/othertses/scrapie/index.html |
Core indicator 2.3: Trade in breeding animals - indicator data sheet
Chart 2.3(i) shows the balance of trade in bovine semen, which is presented as a proxy measure for the trade in breeding animals:
- Bovine semen is the main germplasm exported from the UK. The trade in this commodity has been in deficit throughout the time series shown;
- Between 1994 and 2003 the balance of trade showed an increase in the proportion of the value of exports of this commodity largely due to a steady fall in the value of imports. The value of imports and exports have both shown similar increases since 2004.
Page last
modified:
17 September, 2008
Page published: 24 November, 2006