EUROPEAN COMMISSION 
Brussels, 30.8.2011 
COM(2011) 525 final 
2011/0229 (COD)   
Proposal for a 
REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 
amending Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 as regar ds electronic identifi cation of bovine 
animals and deleting the provisions on voluntary beef labelling 
{SEC(2011) 1008 final} 
{SEC(2011) 1009 final} 
  
EN 2   EN EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM  
Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of 17 July 2000 establishing a sy stem for the identification 
and registration of bovine animals and regard ing the labelling of beef and beef products1 
provides that each Member State is to establish a system for the identification and registration 
of bovine animals in accordance with the provisi ons of that Regulation. Be fore this and in the 
light of the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) crisis Union rules on the identification 
and traceability of bovine animals were alr eady introduced in 1997. Council Regulation (EC) 
No 820/97 established a regime of individual traceability of cattle by means of individual 
identification of animals with two ear tags, a holding register on each holding (e.g. farm, 
market, slaughterhouse), individual passport for each animal containing data on all 
movements and reporting all movements to a comput erised database that is able to quickly 
trace animals and iden tify cohorts in the case of  disease. These principl es were upheld later in 
Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and the Council. The ultimate 
goal was to re-establish consumer confidence in  beef and beef products through transparency 
and full traceability of bovine an imals and beef products and also to localise and trace animals 
for veterinary purposes, which is of crucial impor tance for the control of infectious diseases. 
With a view to achieving these objectives, the regime can be considered nowadays to be a 
success  (BSE has been put under control in the EU  and consumer confidence has been re-
gained2), demonstrating its effectiveness and effici ency in providing important information to 
ensure the control of infectious diseases (e .g. Foot and Mouth Disease, Bluetongue) and to 
ensure traceability of beef.  
Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 (which establis hes a system for the identification and 
registration of bovine animals a nd labelling of beef and beef  products -including voluntary 
labelling- and includes the elem ents “double ear tag”, “holding re gister”, “cattle passport” and 
“computerised database”) was listed as " information obligations w ith special importance in 
terms of the burdens they impose on businesses"  under the Communication from the 
Commission to the Council and the European Parliament (COM (2009)544) on an "Action 
Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the EU"3. 
The Action Plan of the new EU Animal Health Strategy4 foresees the Commission to simplify 
information obligations (e.g. holding registers, passports) in the course of introduction of 
bovine electronic identification (EID). A Re gulatory proposal for ordinary legislative 
procedure is planned in the Commission's Agenda Planning for first semester of 2011. 
However, when the current rules for bovine id entification were adopted in 1997, EID was not 
sufficiently developed from the te chnical point of view  as to be applied at that moment for 
cattle. EID based on radio freque ncy identification (RFID) has considerably developed during 
the last 10 years and provides for a faster an d more accurate reading of individual animal 
codes directly into data processing systems, sa ving labour costs for manual reading but at the 
same time, increasing equipment costs. Thus, th e existing legislation on  bovine identification 
does not reflect these latest technological de velopments. The use of electronic identifiers 
could help to reduce the administrative bur den and paper-work, for instances when the 
                                                 
1 OJ L 204, 11.8.2000, p. 1. 
2 COM (2005) 322 Final-TSE Road Map:  
http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/biosafety/tse_bse/docs/roadmap_en.pdf  
3 http://www.cc.cec/s g_vista/cgi-bin/repository/getdoc/C OMM_PDF_COM_2009_0544_F_EN_ANNEXE.pdf  
4 Reference COM (2007) 539 final.   
EN 3   EN holding register is kept on a computerised form (which is the case for a growing percentage of 
farms), by using automatic reading and by using au tomatic entry into the register. In addition, 
a faster and more reliable system will allo w, among others, a fast er and higher reading 
accuracy than classical ear-tags, easing the pr ocedure to report animal movements to the 
central data base and therefore provides for bette r and faster traceability of infected animals 
and/or infected food.  
Based on the EID current technological advances, several EU Member States have decided on 
a voluntary basis, to start implementing bovine EI D. Experience outside the EU shows also an 
increasing use of bovine EID. In addition, EID has been already introduced in the EU for 
several animal species  (most of them as mandatory). 
The current legal framework does not prohib it Member States from using electronic 
identifiers on a voluntary basis, but this must be done in addition to the official conventional 
visible ear tags. As no harmonise d technical EU standards have  been established, different 
types of electronic identifiers and readers with  different RFID frequenc ies could be used in 
different places. Therefore each Member State might select the standards it wants and this 
approach is likely to lead to a lack of harmoni sation jeopardising electronic exchange of data 
and then the benefits of havi ng EID systems would be lost. 
In relation to voluntary beef la belling, there is a need to re duce the excessive administrative 
burden in the voluntary system which is curre ntly in place. Regulation (EC) No 820/97 
established a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and labelling of 
beef and beef products, which was further st rengthened by Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000. It 
concerns the compulsory indication of the origin  of the cattle (born/fa ttened/slaughtered) from 
which the beef originated (this proposal does not include any new provi sions in relation to 
mandatory requirements for beef labelling), com pulsory references to the identification code 
number of the slaughtered animal, and the esta blishments where the meat has been processed 
(slaughterhouse and meat cutting plant) and also a formal Commission approval procedure 
including a notification requirement for any  additional labelling information other than 
compulsory ones. Already in 2004 the Commission submitte d a report to the Council and the 
European Parliament on the beef labe lling part of Regulation (EC) No 1760/20005 that 
pointed out deficiencies of the voluntary beef labelling scheme. Those were that the system is 
not applied in a uniform way in all Member States (e.g. the administrative practice differs 
considerably between the Member States ) and that  all indications included in the label 
(including those that are not rela ted to origin, traceability or quality characteristics of the 
meat) would be subject to a formal approva l procedure by the competent authority. The 
Commission Staff Working Document  on Simplification of the CAP6 points out the 
suggestion put forward by the “High Leve l Group of Independent  Stakeholders on 
Administrative Burdens” (Stoiber Group). The Stoiber Group sugg ested repealing the 
notification requirement with regard to the us e of additional voluntary labelling indications 
other than those which are compulsory for beef.7  
This proposal takes into account the results of the consultations which took place with 
interested parties and the result of an imp act assessment. The impact assessment concluded 
that introducing bovine EID on a voluntary basis  as a tool for offici al identification would 
                                                 
5 COM(2004) 316 final.  
6 SEC(2009)1601 of 16/11/2009 http://ec.europa.eu /agriculture/simplif ication/sec2009_1601_en.pdf  
7 http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/ policies/better-regul ation/files/hlg_opini on_agriculture_050309_en.pdf , page 7.   
EN 4   EN allow actors to have time to familiarise themse lves with the EID system and to identify the 
added value it would bring in particular circumst ances. This option is preferable as it leaves 
open to EU Member States and al l the private actors involved to organise themselves, so they 
can evaluate the benefits considering regional differences, different ty pes of production and it 
is flexible enough to receive support from author ities and stakeholders that will benefit the 
enforcement of the rules. The voluntary intr oduction of EID implies that EID would be 
chosen by the keepers that are likely to have i mmediate benefits for farm management. This is 
an individual decision taken for economic reasons ( market driven ) by each operator. Under 
the voluntary regime, bovine animals could be identified by two conventional ear tags 
(current system), or by one conve ntional visible ear ta g and one electronic identifier (i.e. an 
electronic ear tag or a bolus) conforming to EU-harmonised standards that have been 
officially approved . The proposed introduction of electroni c identification on a voluntary basis 
provides also the option for EU Me mber States to opt for a manda tory regime in their national 
territory . In case the Member State opts for the mandato ry regime, each bovine animal is to be 
identified by one conventional visible ear tag and one electroni c identifier. An EU mandatory 
regime may  not be the best approach at  the moment as some stakeh olders (e.g. small farmers) 
would be disadvantaged economically. However besides cost considerations, it would be 
ideally the most efficient option in terms of consumer protection (traceability), reduction of 
administrative burden, and to avoid risks related to the co -existence of two systems of 
identification.  This option would be also partially justif iable in terms of better coherence with 
EU policies on EID in other animal species (e.g. sheep).  
Therefore, as a mandatory implementation of EID might economically affect some operators 
in a non-advantageous way, the preferred option for introduction of EID is  a voluntary regime 
where EID is considered an acceptable and suit able legal means of id entification of bovine 
animals, with the possibility for Member Stat es to introduce a mandatory regime at national 
level. 
In addition, there is a need to align Regul ation (EC) No 1760/2000 in accordance with the 
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.  
The entry into force of the Treaty on the Functi oning of the European Union ('TFEU') has led 
to significant changes in the framework for th e adoption of delegated and implementing acts. 
As regards the adoption of delegated and im plementing acts, TFEU clearly distinguishes 
between the two. 
– Article 290 TFEU on delegated acts provides for the legislator(s) to control the 
exercise of the Commission's powers by means of a right of revocation and/or a right 
of objection.  
– Article 291 TFEU on implementing acts prov ides for the control by Member States 
of the Commission's implementing powers. A legal framework establishing the 
mechanisms of such control is set out  in Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the 
European Parliament and the Council laying  down the rules and general principles 
concerning mechanisms for control by Member  States of the Commission’s exercise 
of implementing powers.8 
                                                 
8 OJ L 55, 28.2.2011 p. 13.  
EN 5   EN In relation to the adoption of Regulatio n (EU) No 182/2011, the Commission made the 
following statement: 
"The Commission will proceed to an examin ation of all legislative acts in force 
which were not adapted to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny before the entry 
into force of the Lisbon Treaty, in order to  assess if those instruments need to be 
adapted to the regime of delegated acts in troduced by Article 290 of the Treaty on 
the Functioning of the European Union. The Commission will make the appropriate 
proposals as soon as possible and no later than at the dates mentioned in the 
indicative calendar annexed to this declaration."9 
Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 is one of the legisl ative acts that had not been adapted in the 
past to the regulatory procedure with scrutiny and must therefor e be aligned to the new legal 
framework of delegated and implementing acts.  
Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 s hould therefore be reviewed and amended accordingly as 
regards simplification and reducing of administ rative burden and intr oducing new provisions 
related to bovine id entification and volunt ary beef labelling.  
This draft proposal for a Regulation of the Parliament and the Council has no financial 
implications for the budget of the European Union.  
                                                 
9 OJ L 55, 28.2.2011 p. 19.  
EN 6   EN 2011/0229 (COD) 
Proposal for a 
REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL 
amending Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 as regar ds electronic identification of bovine 
animals and deleting the provisions on voluntary beef labelling 
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE CO UNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular 
Articles 43(2) and 168(4)(b) thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission10, 
After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Eu ropean Economic and Social Committee11, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of Regions12, 
Acting in accordance with the or dinary legislative procedure, 
Whereas: 
(1) In 1997, Union rules on the identification and traceability of bovine animals were re-
enforced in the light of the bovine spongifo rm encephalopathy (BSE) epidemic and the 
resulting increased need to trace the animal's movement and origin using 
"conventional ear tags". 
(2) Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the Europe an Parliament and of the Council of 
17 July 2000 establishing a system for the identification and re gistration of bovine 
animals and regarding the labell ing of beef and beef products13 provides that each 
Member State is to establish a system for the identification and registration of bovine 
animals in accordance with the provisions of that Regulation.  
(3) Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 establishes a system for the identification and 
registration of bovine animals comprising ea r tags applied on both ears of each animal, 
computerised databases, animal passports  and individual regi sters kept on each 
holding. 
                                                 
10 OJ L xx, xx.xx. xxxx, p. xx. 
11 OJ L xx, xx.xx. xxxx, p. xx. 
12 OJ L xx, xx.xx. xxxx, p. xx. 
13 OJ L 204, 11.8.2000, p. 1.  
EN 7   EN (4) Tracing of beef to source via identification a nd registration is a prerequisite for origin 
labelling throughout the food ch ain ensuring consumer protection and public health.  
(5) Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 and more in  particular bovine identification and 
voluntary beef labelling were listed as "information obligations with special 
importance in terms of the burdens they impose on businesses" in the Communication from the Commission to the Council and th e European Parliament on an "Action 
Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the EU"
14 .  
(6) The use of electronic identif ication systems would potenti ally streamline traceability 
processes through automated and more accurate  reading and recording into the holding 
register. It would enable also automate d reporting of animal movements into the 
computerised data base and thus improve sp eed, reliability and accuracy of the system. 
(7) Electronic identification systems based on radio frequency identification have 
considerably improved in the last ten years.  That technology allows  a faster and more 
accurate reading of individual animal identi ty codes directly into data processing 
systems resulting on a reduction of time needed  to trace potential in fected animals or 
infected food, saving labour costs but at th e same time increasing equipment costs.  
(8) This Regulation is coherent with the fact  that electronic identification (EID) has 
already been introduced in the Union for othe r animal species than bovine, such as the 
mandatory system used in small ruminants. 
(9) Given the technological advances  in EID, several Member St ates have decided to start 
to implement bovine EID on a voluntary basis. Those initiatives are likely to lead to 
different systems to be deve loped in individual Member St ates or by stakeholders. 
Such a development would impe de later harmonisation of technical standards within 
the Union. 
(10) A Report from the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament on the 
possibility of introduction of electro nic identification fo r bovine animals15 concludes 
that it has been demonstrated that radio fr equency identification has been developed to 
the extent that it can be applied in practice. The report also concludes that it is highly desirable to switch to elec tronic identification of bovine  animals within the Union 
since among other benefits, it will contribu te to reduce the administrative burden. 
(11) According to the Communication from the Co mmission to the Council, the European 
Parliament, the European Economic and So cial Committee and the Committee of the 
Regions "Action Plan for the implementati on of the EU Animal Health Strategy" 
16 the 
Commission is to simplify information obl igations, such as holding registers and 
passports in the course of the introduction of EID.  
(12) The Communication from the Commission to th e Council, the European Parliament, 
the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a 
new Animal Health Strategy for the Eur opean Union (2007-2013) where “Prevention 
                                                 
14 COM (2009) 544 final. 
15 COM (2005) 9 final. 
16 COM (2008) 545 final.  
EN 8   EN is better than cure”17, proposes considering EID for bovine animals as a possible 
improvement to the existing EU system of id entification and regist ration in order to 
simplify information obligations (e.g. holdi ng registers, passports) and includes the 
initiative to implement an electronic bovine  passport exchange. That exchange would 
entail the introduction of elect ronic identification with real  time introduction of data. 
Such exchange would lead to considerab le savings of cost and efforts for the 
competent authorities of the Member States and other stakeholders and reduce the workload when transferring animal passports data into computerised databases. This 
Regulation is coherent with that initiative.  
(13) This Regulation is thus expected to cont ribute to some key objectives of major EU 
strategies including EU 2020 by impr oving economic growth, cohesion and 
competitiveness. 
(14) Certain third countries have already es tablished rules allowing advanced EID 
technologies. The Union should establish simila r rules to facilitate trade and increase 
the sector's competitiveness. 
(15) Different types of electronic identifiers, such as ruminal boluses, electronic ear tags, 
and injectable transponders may be used to individually identify animals in addition to 
the conventional ear tags provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000. It is 
therefore appropriate to broa den the scope of the means of  identification provided for 
in that Regulation in order to enable  the use of electro nic identification. 
(16) Making EID mandatory throughout the Union may have economically adverse effects 
on certain operators. It is therefore appr opriate that a voluntary regime for the 
introduction of EID is established. Under such a regime, EID would be chosen by 
keepers that are likely to have  immediate economic benefits.  
(17) Member States have very di fferent husbandry systems, fa rming practices and sector 
organisations. Member States should therefor e be allowed to make EID compulsory on 
their territory only when they deem it appropr iate, after considering all those factors.  
(18) Animals entering the Union from third coun tries should be s ubject to the same 
identification requirements that appl y to animals born in the Union.  
(19) Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 pr ovides that the competent authority is to issue a 
passport for each animal which has to be identified in accordance with that Regulation. This causes a considerable administrati ve burden for the Member States. The 
computerised databases established by Memb er States sufficiently ensure traceability 
of domestic movements of bovine animals. Passports should theref ore be issued only 
for animals intended for intra-Union trade. Once the data exchange between national 
computerised databases is operational, th e requirement of issuing such passports 
should no longer apply for animals intended for intra-Union trade. 
(20) Section II of Title II of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 lays down rules for a voluntary 
beef labelling system which provide for the approval of certain la belling specifications 
by the competent authority of the Member State. The administrative burden and the 
costs incurred by Member States and economic  operators in applying this system are 
                                                
 
17 COM (2007) 539 final.  
EN 9   EN not proportionate to the benef its of the system. That S ection should therefore be 
deleted. 
(21) As a consequence of the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the powers conferred 
under Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 upon the Co mmission need to be aligned with 
Articles 290 and 291 of the Treaty on the F unctioning of the European Union (the 
Treaty). 
(22) In order to ensure that the necessary rules for the proper functioning of the 
identification, registration and traceability of bovine animal s and beef are applied, the 
power to adopt acts in accordance with Ar ticle 290 of the Treaty should be delegated 
to the Commission in respect of requirements for alternative means of identification of bovine animals, special circumstances in which Member States may extend the maximum periods for the application of the means of identification, data to be exchanged between the computerised databa ses of the Member States, the maximum 
period for certain reporting obligations, the requirements for means of identification, 
the information to be included in the passpor ts and in the individual registers to be 
kept on each holding, the minimum level of o fficial controls, the identification and 
registration of movements of bovine anim als when put out to  summer grazing in 
different mountain areas, rules for labe lling certain products which should be 
equivalent to the rules laid down in Re gulation (EC) No 1760/2000, the definitions of 
minced beef, beef trimmings or cut beef, the specific indications that may be put on 
labels, the labelling provisions related to th e simplification of the indication of origin, 
the maximum size and composition of certain groups of animals, the approval procedures related to labelling conditions on p ackaging of cut meat It is of particular 
importance that the Commission carry out  appropriate consultations during its 
preparatory work, includi ng at expert level.  
 The Commission, when preparing and drawing- up such delegated acts, should ensure 
a simultaneous, timely and appropriate tran smission of relevant documents to the 
European Parliament and to the Council .  
(23) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of this Regulation with 
respect to the registration of holdings  making use of alternative means of 
identification, technical characteristics a nd modalities for the exchange of data 
between the computerised databases of Memb er States, the format and design of the 
means of identification, technical procedur es and standards for the implementation of 
EID, the format of the passports and of the register to be kept on each holding, rules 
concerning the modalities for the application of the sanctions imposed by the Member States on holders pursuant to Regulat ion (EC) No 1760/2000, implementing powers 
should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in 
accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of  the European Parliament and of the 
Council of 16 February 2011 la ying down the rules and gene ral principles concerning 
mechanisms for control by Member Stat es of the Commission's exercise of 
implementing powers.
18  
(24) Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 should therefore be amended accordingly, 
                                                 
18 OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13.  
EN 10   EN HAVE ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 is  hereby amended as follows: 
(1) in Article 1, the second sentence of paragraph 2 is deleted. (2) in Article 3, in the first paragra ph, point (a) is replaced by the following: 
"(a) means of identification to identify animals individually;" 
(3) Article 4 is replaced by the following: 
"Article 4 
Obligation to identify animals 
1. All animals on a holding shall be identif ied by at least two individual means of 
identification authorised in accordance with Articles 10 and 10a and approved 
by the competent authority.  
 The means of identification shall be al located to the hold ing, distributed and 
applied to the animals in a manner de termined by the competent authority.  
 All means of identification applied to one animal shall bear the same unique 
identification code, which makes it possibl e to identify the animal individually 
together with the holding on which it was born. 
2. Member States may introduce national pr ovisions to make compulsory the use 
of an electronic identifier  as one of the two means of identification provided 
for in paragraph 1.  
 The Member States that make use of this option shall pr ovide the Commission 
with the text of such  national provisions. 
3. By way of derogation from paragra ph 1, bovine animals intended for cultural 
and sporting events other than fairs and exhibitions may be identified by alternative means of identification offe ring equivalent identification standards 
to those provided for in that paragraph. 
4. Holdings making use of alternative mean s of identification shall be registered 
in the computerised database. 
 The Commission shall, by means of im plementing acts, lay down the necessary 
rules concerning such registration. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in 
accordance with the examination proce dure referred to in Article 23(2).  
5. The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance 
with Article 22b concerning the require ments for the alternative means of 
identification referred to in paragraph 3, including provision s on their removal 
and replacement."  
EN 11   EN (4) The following Articles 4a to 4d are inserted: 
"Article 4a 
Time period for the application of the means of identification 
1. The means of identification provided for in Article 4(1) shall be applied within 
a maximum period from the birth of the animal to be determined by the Member State in which the animal wa s born. That period shall not be longer 
than: 
(a) 20 days for the first means of identification;  (b) 60 days for the second means of identification.  
 No animal may leave the holding where it was born before the two means of 
identification have been applied.  
2. Under special circumstances Member States may extend the maximum periods 
for the application of the means of id entification for a longer period than 
provided for in paragraph 1(a) and (b). The Member States that make use of 
this option shall inform the Commission thereof.  
 The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance 
with Article 22b to determine those special circumstances.  
Article 4b 
Identification of animals from third countries 
1. Any animal subject to ve terinary checks on animals entering the Union from a 
third country pursuant to Directive 91/ 496/EEC and intended for a holding of 
destination within the territory of the Un ion shall be identified at the holding of 
destination with the means of identifi cation provided for in Article 4(1).  
 The original identification applied to th e animal in the thir d country of origin 
shall be recorded in the computerised  database provided for in Article 5 
together with the unique identificati on code of the in dividual means of 
identification allocated to the animal by the Member State of destination.  
 However, the first subparagraph shall not apply to animals destined directly for 
a slaughterhouse situated in a Member State, provided that the animals are 
slaughtered within 20 days follo wing those veterinary checks. 
2. The means of identification of animals referred to in  the first subparagraph of 
paragraph 1 shall be applied within a maximum period to be determined by the 
Member State in which the holding of destination is located. 
 That period shall not exceed 20 days following the veterinary checks referred 
in paragraph 1. In any event, the means of identification shall be applied to the animals before they leave the holding of destination.   
EN 12   EN 3. Where the holding of destination is s ituated in a Member State that has 
introduced national provisions to make compulsory the use of an electronic 
identifier as referred to in Article 4(2), the animals shall be identified with that 
electronic identifier in the holding of destination in th e Union, within a period 
to be determined by the Memb er State of destination.  
 That period shall not exceed 20 days following the veterinary checks referred 
in paragraph 1. In any event, the electr onic identifier shall be applied to the 
animals before they leave the holding of destination. 
Article 4c 
Identification of animals moved fr om one Member State to another 
1. Animals moved from one Member State to another shall retain the means of 
identification applied to th em pursuant to Article 4.   
2. Where the holding of destination is s ituated in a Member State that has 
introduced national provisions to make compulsory the use of an electronic 
identifier, the animals shall be identi fied with that el ectronic identifier: 
(a) before being moved to the holding of  destination in that Member State; 
or 
(b) in the holding of destination within  a maximum period to be determined 
by the Member State where that holding is located. 
 The maximum period referred to in point (b) shall not exceed  20 days from the 
date of arrival of the animals on the hol ding of destination. In any event, the 
means of identification shall be applied to the animals before they leave the 
holding of destination.  
 However, the first subparagraph shall not apply to animals destined directly for 
a slaughterhouse situated in  the territory of the Member State that has 
introduced national provisions to make compulsory the use of an electronic 
identifier, provided that the animals are slaughtered within 20 days following 
those veterinary checks.  
Article 4d 
Removal or replacement of means of identification 
No means of identification may be remove d or replaced without the permission and 
without the control of the competent authority. Such permission may only be granted 
where the removal or replacement do not comp romise the traceability of the animal. " 
(5) Article 5 is amended as follows: 
– the second paragraph is deleted and replaced by the following:   
EN 13   EN  "Member States may exchange electronic data between their computerised 
databases from the date when the Commi ssion recognises the full operability of 
the data exchange system. 
 The Commission shall adopt delegated act s in accordance with Article 22b to 
lay down the rules concerni ng the data to be exchanged between computerised 
databases of Member States. 
 The Commission shall by means of implementing acts: 
(a) lay down the technical conditions and modalities for such exchange; 
(b) recognise the full operability of the data exchange system. 
 Those implementing acts shall be adopted  in accordance with the examination 
procedure referred to in Article 23(2)." 
(6) Article 6 is replaced by the following:  
"Article 6 
Where a Member State does not exchange el ectronic data with other Member States 
in the framework of the electronic exchange system referred to in Article 5: 
(a) the competent authority shall, for each animal that is intended for intra-Union 
trade, issue a passport based on the information contained in the computerised 
database set up in that Member State;  
(b) each animal for which a passport is issued, shall be accompanied by it 
whenever the animal is moved from  one Member State to another; 
(c) upon arrival of the animal at the holding of destination, the passport 
accompanying the animal shall be surrende red to the competent authority of 
the Member State where the holding of destination is located."  
(7) Article 7 is amended as follows: 
(a) paragraph 1 is amended as follows: 
(i) the second indent is replaced by the following: 
"– report to the competent authority all movements to and from the 
holding and all births and deaths of  animals of the holding, together 
with the dates of those events, within a maximum period fixed by 
the Member State; the maximum peri od shall be at least three days 
and no longer than seven days following the occurrence of the 
event; Member States may request the Commission to extend the maximum period of seven days."  
EN 14   EN (ii) the following second subparagraph is added: 
 "The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in 
accordance with Article 22b to determ ine the circumstances in which 
Member States may extend the maxi mum period of seven days provided 
for in the second indent of the first subparagraph, together with the maximum length of that extension."  
(b) the following paragraph 5 is added:  
"5. By way of derogation from paragr aph 4, keeping an up-to-date register 
shall be optional for any keeper who: 
(a) has direct access to the comput erised database which already 
contains the information to be included in the register; and 
(b) enters up-to-date information directly into the computerised 
database within twenty-four hours of the occurrence of the event. " 
(8) The following Article 9a is inserted:  
"Article 9a 
Training 
Member States shall ensure  that any person responsible  for the identification and 
registration of animals receive s instructions and guidance on the relevant provisions 
of this Regulation and of any delega ted and implementing acts adopted by the 
Commission on the basis of Articles 10 a nd 10a, and that appr opriate training 
courses are available."  
(9) Article 10 is replaced by the following: 
"Article 10 
Conferral of powers on the Commissio n to adopt certain delegated acts 
The Commission shall be empowered to a dopt delegated acts in  accordance with 
Article 22b to lay down the necessary rules,  including transitional measures required 
for their introduction, concerning:  
(a) the requirements for the means of identification provided for in Article 4; (b) the information to be included in th e passport provided for in Article 6; 
(c) the information to be included in th e register provided for in Article 7; 
(d) the minimum level of official contro ls to be carried out in accordance to 
Article 22;  
(e) the identification and re gistration of movements of bovine animals when put 
out to summer grazing in different mountain areas."  
EN 15   EN (10) The following Article 10a is inserted: 
"Article 10a 
Conferral of certain implementing powers on the Commission 
The Commission may lay down, by means of im plementing acts, the necessary rules, 
including transitional measures required for their introduction, concerning:  
(a) the format and design of the means of identification provided for in Article 4; 
(b) the technical procedures and standard s for the implementation of the electronic 
identification of bovine animals;  
(c) the format of the passport provided for in Article 6; (d) the format of the register  provided for in Article 7; 
Those implementing acts shall be adopted  in accordance with  the examination 
procedure referred to in Article 23(2)".  
(11) Article 13 is amended as follows: 
(a) paragraphs 3 and 4 are deleted; (b) in paragraph 5, the introductory phras e of point (a) is replaced by the 
following: 
"(a) Operators and organisations shal l also indicate on the labels:" 
(12) In Article 14, the fourth paragraph is repl aced by the following: 
"The Commission shall be empowered to a dopt delegated acts in accordance with 
Article 22b to lay down rules equivalent to th ose in the first three paragraphs of this 
Article for beef trimmings or cut beef."  
(13) Article 15 is repl aced by the following: 
"Article 15 
Compulsory labelling of beef from third countries 
By way of derogation from Article 13, beef imported into the territory of the Union 
for which not all the information provided for in Article 13 is available, shall be labelled with the indication: 
'origin: non-EU' and 'Slaughtered in (name of third country)'." 
(14) Articles 16, 17 and 18 are deleted.  
EN 16   EN (15) Article 19 is repl aced by the following: 
"Article 19 
Conferral of powers on the Commissio n to adopt certain delegated acts 
The Commission shall be empowered to a dopt delegated acts in  accordance with 
Article 22b concerning:  
(a) the definitions of minced beef, beef  trimmings or cut beef referred to in 
Article 14; 
(b) the specific indications that may be put on labels;  
(c) the labelling provisions related to the simplification of the indication of origin;  (d) the maximum size and composition of  the group of animals referred to 
Article 13(2)(a);  
(e) the approval procedures related to labelling conditions on packaging of cut 
meats; " 
(16) Articles 20 and 21 are deleted. (17) Article 22 is amended as follows: 
(a) in paragraph 1, the following third subparagraph is added: 
 "The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down the 
necessary rules, in cluding transitional measures required for their introduction, 
concerning the procedures and conditions for the application of the sanctions 
referred to in the second subparagraph." 
(b) paragraph 4 is replaced by the following:  
"4. Where the Commission deems that the outcome of checks so justifies, it 
shall, by means of an implementing act, draw up the necessary measures to ensure proper compliance in particul ar as regards the level of controls, 
the administrative sanctions, and pr ovision related to the maximum 
periods referred to in Article 4, 4a, 4b and 4c . That implementing act 
shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 23(2)." 
(c) paragraphs 5 and 6 are deleted.  
EN 17   EN (18) The following Articles 22a and 22b are inserted: 
"Article 22a 
Competent authorities  
Member States shall designate the competen t authority or author ities responsible for 
ensuring compliance with this Regulati on and any acts adopted by the Commission 
on its basis.  
They shall inform the Commission and the ot her Member States of the identity of 
those authorities.  
Article 22b  
Exercise of the delegated powers 
1. The power to adopt delega ted acts is conferred on the Commission subject to 
the conditions laid down in this Article. 
2. The delegation of power referred to in Ar ticles 4(5) and 4a(2 ) and in Articles 5, 
7, 10, 14 and 19 shall be conferred on th e Commission for an indeterminate 
period of time from* 
 [*date of entry into force of this Regul ation or from any other date set by the 
legislator]. 
3. The delegation of power referred to in Ar ticles 4(5) and 4a(2 ) and in Articles 5, 
7, 10, 14 and 19 may be revoked at any tim e by the European Parliament or by 
the Council. A decision of revocation shal l put an end to the delegation of the 
power specified in that decision. It sh all take effect the day following the 
publication of the decision in the official Journal of the European Union or at a 
later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force. 
4. As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it 
simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council. 
5. A delegated act adopted pursuant to Articles 4(5) and 4a(2) and Articles 5 , 7, 
10, 14, and 19 shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or  the Council within  a period of two 
months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council 
or if, before the expiry of that period , the European Parliament and the Council 
have both informed the Commission that th ey will not object. That period shall 
be extended by two months at the initiativ e of the European Parliament or the 
Council."  
EN 18   EN (19) Article 23 is repl aced by the following: 
"Article 23 
Committee procedure 
1. The Commission shall be assisted: 
(a) for the implementing acts adopted pursuant to Article 22(1), by the 
Committee on the Agricultural Funds esta blished by article 41 of Council 
Regulation (EC) No 1290/200519; 
(b) for the implementing acts adopted purs uant to Article 4( 4) and Articles 5, 
10a and 22, by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health established by Article 58 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the 
European Parliament and of the Council.
20  
 Those committees shall be committees within the meaning of Regulation 
(EU) No 182/2011.  
2. Where reference is made to this para graph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 
182/2011 shall apply.  
 Where the opinion of the Committee is to  be obtained by wr itten procedure, 
that procedure shall be terminated wit hout result when, with in the time limit 
for delivery of the opinion, the chair of the Committee so decides or a simple 
majority of committee members so requests."  
Article 2 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in 
the Official Journal of  the European Union. 
This Regulation shall be binding in  its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 
For the European Parliament For the Council 
The President The President 
                                                 
19 OJ L 209, 11.8.2005, p. 1. 
20 OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1.