Ovine and caprine animals: date of introduction of electronic identification

PURPOSE: to postpone the entry into force of mandatory electronic identification for ovine and caprine animals to 31 December 2009.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EC) No 1560/2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 as regards the date of introduction of electronic identification for ovine and caprine animals.

CONTENT: Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 establishing a system for the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals provides that each Member State is to establish a system for the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals in accordance with the provisions of that Regulation. The Regulation also provides that, as from 1 January 2008, electronic identification is to become obligatory for all animals born after that date.

In the report that is presented to the Council on the implementation of electronic identification, the Commission concluded that it was not possible to justify the date of 1 January 2008 as the date for the introduction of obligatory electronic identification.

The Council adopted by a qualified majority, with the Spanish and Italian delegations voting against, a Regulation postponing the date of introduction of mandatory electronic identification for small ruminants to 31 December 2009, in order to allow the Member States to take necessary measures to properly implement the system, taking into account its current and potential economic impact.

Before 31 December 2009, Member States may introduce the obligatory use of electronic identification for animals born on their territory.

In a statement, the Italian and Spanish delegations expressed their dissatisfaction with the content of the proposal and explained the reasons that led them to vote against the adoption of the proposal to amend Regulation No 21/2004.

The United Kingdom delegation, supported by the German, Irish and Slovak delegations, made a statement expressing its support for a deferment of the introduction of compulsory electronic identification for sheep and goats. However, given the period of time that has elapsed since the agreement of the original Regulation, the UK called on the Commission to revise its impact assessment, taking into account the cost to industry and enforcement bodies, in order to confirm, before the entry into force of EID, that the objectives of the Regulation are being met in the most cost-effective way.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 22/12/2007