In adopting the report by Mr Xaver MAYER (EPP, D) Parliament amended the Commission's
proposal for a regulation establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine
animals. It required in particular that:
- the harmonization of systems should be assured by adequate funding by the European Commission,
- the data base should be fully operational by 31 December 1997 at the latest: by that date it should
contain birth and slaughter data and should contain all other data from 31 December 1998 at the
latest,
- this data base should be accessible to consumer protection organizations in well-founded cases
recognized by the national bodies.
With regard to the ear-tags, Parliament proposed that they should be applied within 30 days
following the birth of the animal (and not 14 days as proposed by the Commission) and in any case
before the animal leaves the holding on which it was born. These tags should be of a standardized
type, approved, not forgeable and legible throughout the animal's life. When they become illegible
or if they are lost the competent office must issue a replacement tag.
With regard to the passport, it must be issued for each animal to which an ear-tag has been allocated
and must accompany the animals during any movement. After attaching the ear-tag the keeper is
required to activate the associated passport. Animals imported from third countries shall receive on
entry into the Union a passport corresponding to the ear-tag. If it is guaranteed that the central data
base contains all the information provided for and that all the animal movements are registered in
it, the Member States may dispense with the introduction of animal passports.
The European Commission was called on to adopt by 1 April 1997 at the latest the provisions
concerning the application of the regulation. The regulation will be applicable with effect from 1
July 1997.
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