Ovine and caprine animals: date of introduction of electronic identification

PURPOSE: to amend Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 as regards the date of introduction of electronic identification for ovine and caprine animals.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Regulation.

CONTENT: according to Regulation (EC) No 21/2004, the Commission is required to examine the experience gained from several projects carried out in Member States on the implementation of the electronic identification (EID) systems and to submit a report to the Council. This report should be accompanied by a proposal on which the Council shall vote confirming or amending the date of 1 January 2008 for the obligatory introduction of electronic identification.

The Commission report indicates that a wider stakeholder discussion, in particular about the economic impact of the introduction of electronic identification, should take place before a final date for the mandatory use of EID is fixed. It is therefore proposed that Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 should be amended in order to lay down the procedures for the establishment of the date on which EID of sheep and goats shall become obligatory.

The setting of a new date will be agreed in accordance with the comitology procedure. The Commission envisages the establishment of such a date in 2008 with a view to the implementation of electronic identification system in all EU Member States by the end of 2009.