Brussels, 23 January 2018
NOTICE TO STAKEHOLDERS
BREEDING OF ANIMALS
The United Kingdom submitted on 29 March 2017 the notification of its intention to withdraw from the Union pursuant to Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. This means that, unless the withdrawal agreement1 establishes another date, all Union primary and secondary law ceases to apply to the United Kingdom from 30 March 2019, 00:00h (CET) (“the withdrawal date”)2. The United Kingdom would then become a ‘third country’3.
Preparing for the withdrawal is not just a matter for EU and national authorities but also for private parties.
In view of the considerable uncertainties, in particular concerning the content of a possible withdrawal agreement, all breeders referred to in Article 2(5) and (6) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 of the European Parliament and of the Council4 are reminded of legal repercussions , which need to be considered when the United Kingdom becomes a third country.
Subject to any transitional arrangement that may be contained in a possible withdrawal agreement, as of the withdrawal date, the EU rules in the field of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 on zootechnical and genealogical conditions for the breeding, trade in and entry into the Union of purebred breeding animals of the bovine, ovine, caprine, porcine and equine species, hybrid breeding pigs and the germinal products thereof no longer apply to the United Kingdom. This has, in particular, the following consequences in the different areas of animal breeding:
1 Negotiations are ongoing with the United Kingdom with a view to reaching a withdrawal agreement.
2 Furthermore, in accordance with Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union, the European Council, in agreement with the United Kingdom, may unanimously decide that the Treaties cease to apply at a later date.
3 A third country is a country not member of the EU.
4 Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2016 on zootechnical and genealogical conditions for the breeding, trade in and entry into the Union of purebred breeding animals, hybrid breeding pigs and the germinal products thereof and amending Regulation (EU) No 652/2014, Council Directives 89/608/EEC and 90/425/EEC and repealing certain acts in the area of animal breeding (‘Animal Breeding Regulation’) (OJ L 171, 29.6.2016, p. 66).
As of the withdrawal date, breed societies and breeding operations in the United Kingdom will no longer be listed in accordance with Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012.
As of the withdrawal date, purebred breeding animals and hybrid breeding pigs, or the offspring of germinal products of those animals, may only be entered in breeding books or registered in breeding registers established in Member States of EU-27, if they were accompanied by a zootechnical certificate in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/7175, issued by a breeding body in the United Kingdom if listed in accordance with Article 34 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012.
Breeders who have their breeding animals entered in breeding books established by breed societies or registered in breeding registers established by breeding operations recognised in the United Kingdom may consider to enter or register those animals before the withdrawal date (also) in the appropriate breeding books and registers established for the same breed or cross in a Member State of EU-27.
Equidae imported into a Member State of EU-27 from the United Kingdom after the withdrawal date shall be identified, as any equidae imported from other third countries, in accordance with Articles 14 and 15 of Regulation (EU) 2015/262.6 The website of the Commission on “Zootechnics”7 provides general information concerning animal breeding and specific information on approved breeding organisations and breeders associations that keep herdbooks for different breeds. The website of the Commission on identification of equine animals8 provides general information concerning the identification of equidae and specific information on issuing bodies for identification documents for equidae.
These pages will be updated with further information, where necessary.
European Commission Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
5 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/717 of 10 April 2017 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the model forms of zootechnical certificates for breeding animals and their germinal products (OJ L 109, 26.4.2017, p. 9).
6 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/262 of 17 February 2015 laying down rules pursuant to Council Directives 90/427/EEC and 2009/156/EC as regards the methods for the identification of equidae (Equine Passport Regulation) (OJ L 59, 3.3.2015, p. 1).
7 https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/zootechnics/legislation_en
8 https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/identification/equine_en#
This article contains European Union public sector information which is reproduced pursuant to Commission Decision of 12 December 2011 on the reuse of Commission documents (2011/833/EU)