No C 304/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 29. 11. 88 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Regulation (EEC) laying down zootechnical and pedigree requirements 
for the marketing of purebred animals 
COM(88) 598 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 8 November 1988) 
(88/C 304/07) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 
Economic Community, and in particular Article 43 
thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas purebred animals, being 'live animals', are 
included in the list in Annex II to the Treaty; 
Whereas the breeding and production of purebred 
animals occupies an important place in Community agri­
culture; 
Whereas specific rules for the approximation of 
zootechnical legislation have been laid down at 
Community level for cattle, swine, sheep, goats and 
equidae; 
Whereas, to ensure the rational development of livestock 
production and thus increase productivity in that sector, 
rules for the marketing of purebred animals should be 
laid down at Community level; 
Whereas purebred animals are generally reared in the 
context of farming activities; whereas the rearing of such 
animals constitutes a source of income for part of the. 
farming population and whereas it should therefore be 
encouraged; 
Whereas satisfactory results in this field depend largely 
on the use of purebred animals; Whereas, in principle, intra-Community trade must not 
be prohibited, restricted or impeded; whereas, however, 
the completion of the internal market may in certain 
circumstances call for the approximation of laws, 
particularly as regards entries in pedigree records and the 
certificate required for marketing purposes; 
Whereas provisions should be introduced preventing 
purebred animals from being imported from third 
countries on terms which arc less stringent than those 
applicable within the Community; 
Whereas implementing measures should be adopted 
regarding certain technical aspects; whereas, for the 
purposes of the planned measures, provision should be 
made for close cooperation between the Member States 
and the Commission within the Standing Committee on 
Zootechnics, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: 
Article 1 
1. This Regulation lays down zootechnical and 
pedigree requirements for the marketing of purebred 
animals and the semen, ova and embryos thereof. 
2. This Regulation shall apply without prejudice to 
the provisions laid down in more specific Community 
rules. 
Article 2 
For the purpose of this Regulation: 
(a) 'Purebred animal' shall be taken to mean any animal 
which is entered or registered in a pedigree record; 
(b) 'Pedigree record' shall be taken to mean any book, 
register, file or data medium: 
— which is maintained by a breeders' organization 
or association officially recognized by a Member 
State or by an official agency of a Member State, 
and 
— in which purebred animals of a given breed are 
entered or registered. 
29. 11. 88 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 304/7 
Article 3 
Intra-Community trade in purebred animals and in the 
semen, ova and embryos thereof may not be prohibited, 
restricted or impeded on zootechnical ground or for 
reasons of pedigree breeding. 
Article 4 
Where necessary, the Commission, acting in accordance 
with the procedure laid down in Article 7, shall establish: 
— the criteria for the recognition of breeder's organ­
izations and associations which maintain or establish 
pedigree records; 
— the criteria for entry or registration in pedigree 
records; 
— the criteria for approval for reproduction and for the 
use of semen, ova and embryos; 
— the certificate to be required for the marketing of 
purebred animals and the semen, ova and embryos 
thereof. 
Article 5 
Until Community rules on the subject are implemented, 
the conditions applicable to imports of purebred animals 
and to the semen, ova and embryos thereof from third 
countries must not be more favourable than those 
governing intra-Community trade. Article 6 
The Commission shall be assisted by the Standing 
Committee on Zootechnics, hereinafter referred to as 
'the Committee'. 
Article 7 
Where the procedure laid down in this Article is to be 
used, the following rules shall apply: The representative 
of the Commission shall submit to the Committee a draft 
of the measures to be adopted. The Committee shall 
t deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which 
the Chairman may lay down according to the urgency of 
the matter, if necessary by taking a vote. 
The opinion shall be entered in the minutes; in addition, 
each Member State shall have the right to ask to have its 
position recorded in the minutes. 
The Commission shall take the utmost account of the 
opinion delivered by the Committee. It shall inform the 
Committee of the manner in which its opinion has been 
taken into account. 
Article 8 
This Regulation shall enter into force on the thirtieth 
day following its publication in the Official Journal of the 
European Communities. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and 
directly applicable in all Member States.