Identification of Equidae in the EU

Kai-Uwe Sprenger

DG Health and Consumer ProtectionUnit D.1 Animal health

Kai-Uwe.Sprenger@ec.europa.eu

http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/animal/index_en.htm

This presentation does not necessarily represent the views of the European Commission

Will talk about

Some (new) EU rules on identification

Some linked matters in relation to studbooks

Equidae – legal framework

Animal Health(movement, trade, imports, identification – all equidae)

Dir. 90/426/EEC

Zootechnics(studbook – registered equidae)

Dir. 90/427/EEC

Competitions(use – registered equidae)

Dir. 90/428/EEC

3

Identification of equidae at EU-level

1. animal health issue

traceability during movement, trade and

imports of animals with certified health status

prerequisite for control measures in case of

disease (Annex A to 90/426/EEC)

2. public health issue

medical treatment of food producing animals

3. zootechnical issue

pedigree certificate for registered equidae

Equidae - the most mobile segment of EU livestock -

5.9 Million equidae (horses, donkeys etc.)

2.9 Million(49%)

registered equidae(registered in a studbook)

3 Million(51%)

equidae for breeding and production

(not registered in a studbook)

Current legal situation:

Since 1 July 2000 all equidae must be accompanied by an identification document whenever they are moved.

registered equidae Dir. 90/426/EEC and 90/427/EECDec. 93/623/EEC

Passportissued by “studbook“

equidae breeding & productionDir. 90/426/EECDec. 2000/68/EC

Identification DocumentIssued by “competent authority”

equidae for slaughter

New situation from 1 July 2009Regulation (EC) No 504/2008

registered equidae

issued by “studbook“

equidae breeding & production

Issued by “competent authority”

• single lifetime identification document (~6 months after birth)• link between document and animal (electronic transponder)• database recording the unique identification number• procedure for replacement/duplicate documents

clarification on issuing bodies for …

Some options/derogations:

outline diagram (Art. 6)

animals under wild or semi-wild conditions (Art. 7)

alternative methods to prevent multiple identification documents (Art. 12)

smart card as option instead of passport (Art. 14)

foals for slaughter within 12 months (Art. 15)

Can an approved breeding organisation (studbook)

from another Member State issue identification documents

for its membersin Italy?

YES!

Community legislation does not prevent the owner of an animal to register the animal in a

studbook in another Member State.

What is an approved breeding organisation?(Decision 92/353/EC)

breeders’ organisation or associationkeeping a studbookcarrying out a breeding programme

legal right to be approved by authorities of the Member State of its headquarters according to Community legislationactivity not limited to one Member State

Information

EU- zootechnical legislation

http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/animal/zootechnics/index_en.htm

Approved breeding organisations

http://forum.europa.eu.int/irc/sanco/vets/info/data/breeding/breeding.html

Cross-border activities of approved breeding organisations

possible without restrictions because of

principle of the common market (right of citizens)

harmonised criteria for approval (92/353/EEC)

practiced in a number of cases

Conclusions I

New EU - rules on equine ID

Are based on the established principles

Clarify legal uncertainties

Allow adaptation to the specific needs of the equine industry in all Member States

Conclusions II

Prepare July 2009

Check the (new) rules

Establish procedures if necessary

'Personalise' for Italy

Thanks for your attention!

Why harmonised zootechnical legislation?

National legislation strengthening the home breeding sector (entry in herdbooks, acceptance for breeding) created trade barriers.

Harmonisation was necessary at EC level to break up trade barriers

Basic aim of EU zootechnical legislation

free trade of breeding animals and their genetic material as standardised products

legal right to enter a studbook of the same breed

The aims are reached by harmonised...

recognition of breeding organisations

criteria governing entry in studbooks

EU-zootechnical legislation - http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/animal/zootechnics/legislation_en.htm

bovine pigs sheep/goats equidae other

animals pure-bred hybride Basic Directives: herdbook,

breeders organisations, trade semen, ova embryos

Dir. 77/504 Dir. 88/661 Dir. 89/361 Dir. 90/427 Dir.

91/174

acceptance for breeding Dir. 87/328 Dir. 90/118 Dir. 90/119 C.D. 90/257 -- -- recognition breeders

organisations C.D. 84/247 C.D. 89/501 C.D. 89/504 C.D. 90/254

C.D. 92/353 C.D. 92/354

--

entering in herdbooks C.D. 84/419 C.D. 89/502 C.D. 89/505 C.D. 90/255 C.D. 96/78 -- performance testing and

genetic value assessment C.D. 2006/427 C.D. 89/507 C.D. 90/256 -- --

pedigree certificate - animals

C.D. 93/623 C.D. 2000/68 Reg. 504/2000 Identification

- semen, ova, embryos

C.D. 2005/379 C.D. 89/503 C.D. 89/506 C.D. 90/258

C.D. 96/79

--

Importation from Third Countries

Dir. 94/28

pedigree certificates C.D. 96/509 C.D. 96/510 (C.D. 93/623) -- approved organisations C.D. 2006/139 -- --

special regulations INTERBULL Cou.D. 96/463 - financial aid

Competitions Dir. 90/428

Data C.D. 92/216

Dir. Council Directive C.D. Commission Decision Cou.D. Council Decision Reg. Commission Regulation

“studbook of the origin of a breed”

One breeding organization (‘mother studbook’) establishes principles, the ‘daughter studbooks’ have to comply with

Cannot prevent that several breeding organizations will be approved for the same breed

Principles to be established by the studbook of the originDecision 92/353/EEC point 3 (b)

systems for pedigree recording

characteristics of the breed

identification (e.g. number, technique)

selection objectives

division of the studbook in classes

lineages (generations)

Practical Consequences

several breeding organisations for the same breed can exist in one Member State

organisations not following the principles of the studbook of origin breed - legally - a different breed

Entry in studbooks (Dec. 96/78)

Legal right to enter the main section of the studbook of its breed for each animal whose parents are entered in the main section

Main section may be divided into classes according to the animals‘ merits (e.g. conformation)

Supplementary section as option for “open studbooks“

Entry into studbooks(Dec. 96/78/EC)

class without additional requirements

may be further divided(elite, super elite, …)

minimum performance,clear rules allowing progeny

to enter the main section

stallions/mares

main section for animals with legal right to enter (parents in the studbook)

supplementary section for animals without legal right to enter (no pedigree)

Horse Competitions (Dir. 90/428/EEC)

rules of competitions (including showing classes) may not discriminate between horses from different Member States with view to

requirements for entering the competition

judging

price money

Derogations (Art 2 (2) of Dir. 90/428/EEC)

a)competitions reserved for specific studbooks

b)regional competitions (with view to select)

c)historic or traditional events

Member State shall inform the Commission beforehand

Distribution of price money (Art 2 (2) of Dir. 90/428/EEC)

Member States may reserve max. 20% of the price money (per competition) for improvement of (national) breeding.

What is a breed?

“A breed is a group of domestic animals, termed such by common consent of the breeders, ... a term which arose among breeders of livestock, created ... one might say, for their own use, and no one is warranted in assigning to this word a scientific definition and in calling the breeders wrong when they deviate from the formulated definition. It is their word and the breeders common usage is what we must accept as the correct definition.”

Jay L. Lush (1948) in: The Genetics of Populations