30. 9. 74 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 116/33 
Opinion  on the 'Proposal  for a Council  Regulation  on pure-bred  breeding  animals  of 
the bovine  species'  and  on the 'Draft  for a Council  Decision  setting  up a Standing 
Committee  on Zootechnics' 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  journal  of the 
European  Communities  No C 44 of 19 April  1974,  pages  20 to 26. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 12 March  1974,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Articles  43 and 198  of the Treaty  establishing 
the European  Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its Opinion  on the above  matter  at its 
121st  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 26 and 27 June  1974. 
The full text of the Opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE: 
Having  regard  to the request  from  the Council,  dated 
12 March  1974,  for an opinion  on the 'Proposal  for a 
Council  Regulation  on pure-bred  breeding  animals  of 
the bovine  species'  and  the  'Draft  for a Council 
Decision  setting  up  a Standing  Committee  on 
Zootechnics'; 
Having  regard  to Articles  43 and  198  of the Treaty 
establishing  the European  Economic  Community; 
Having  regard  to the Decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
21 March  1974,  entrusting  the Section  for Agriculture 
with the  preparation  of an  opinion  on  these 
proposals; 
Having  regard  to the  report  submitted  by  the 
rapporteur,  Mr Wick; 
Having  regard  to the Opinion  delivered  by the Sec-
tion for Agriculture  at its meeting  on 6 June  1974; 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 121st  plenary 
session  on 26 and  27 June  1974,  sitting  of 27 June 
1974, HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously: 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  approves  the 
Commission's  proposals,  subject  to the  following 
comments: 
1. GENERAL  COMMENTS 
1.1. Before  holding  a detailed  discussion  on the 
Commission  proposals  the Committee  examined  the 
nature  of the  obstacles  to the  free  movement  of 
pure-bred  breeding  animals. 
1.2. It  was  established  that,  in general,  it is 
possible  to trade  freely  in pure-bred  breeding  animals 
within  the Community,  provided  they  conform  to the 
veterinary  regulations  of the  individual  Member 
States,  which,  however,  still  vary  considerably  in 
specific  cases.  The  same  applies  to other  cattle. 
1.3. There  do not  appear  to be any  specific 
obstacles  of a zootechnical  or biological  nature 
affecting  the free  movement  of pure-bred  breeding 
animals.  It is, however,  noted  that  the majority  of 
Member  States  are  making  an effort  to avoid 
•No C 116/34 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 30. 9. 74 
unnecessary  increases  in the  number  of breeds,  in 
order  to concentrate  costly  breeding  work  on a few 
breeds  and  thereby  obtain  more  effective  progress  in 
this field.  Nevertheless,  in most  Member  States  it is 
possible  to import  breeds  not hitherto  represented  in 
the country  in question,  providing  there  are  a 
sufficient  number  of people  interested  who  are 
prepared  to  form  and  maintain  a breeders' 
association  conforming  to the country's  requirements. 
1.4. Mutual  recognition  of herd-books  and  a 
common  system  of registration  of breeding  animals  in 
herd-books  would  therefore  seem  desirable,  in order 
that the  progress  made  in the  individual  Member 
States  with  regard  to breeding  may  be utilized  to 
maximum  effect.  Freedom  of trade  is a basis  for the 
measures  to be taken  to this  end. 
1.5. The  Committee  emphasizes  that  the breeding 
of pure-bred  animals  in agriculture  is not an end  in 
itself,  but is pursued  in an economic  context  with  the 
object  of providing  the  producer  with  a suitable 
means  of production  ensuring  a commodity  which  is 
good  value  for money,  and  thus  ultimately  benefits 
the consumer  too. 
1.6. In  view  of the  differences  in ecological  and 
economic  conditions  and  in breeding  methods  and 
the diversity  of consumer  preferences,  care  should  be 
taken  to prevent  harmonization  in this  field  from 
leading  to uniformity  in breeding  methods  and 
criteria  for entry  in herd-books. 
1.7. ' Harmonization  must  be  limited  to 
fundamental  rules  and  leave  sufficient  scope  for 
appropriate  differentiation.  Above  all, it is important 
to ensure  that  those  countries  which  have  achieved 
most  progress  in the  field  of zootechnics  are  not 
compelled,  for  reasons  of harmonization,  to align 
downwards  to less  exacting  standards  of other 
Member  States.  Care  should  also  be taken,  however, 
to prevent  discrimination  between  producers  in the 
various  Member  States  as a result  of stricter 
enforcement  of regulations  in one  Member  State  than 
in another. 
1.8. The  Committee  would  draw  the  attention  of 
the Commission  to the  fact  that  the  breeders' 
associations  for pure-bred  animals  in the individual 
Member  States  have  already  harmonized  milk 
recording,  on their  own  initiative.  The  Committee 
requests  the  Commission  to make  use  of this 
harmonization  where  possible.  The  Commission 
should  also  promote  harmonization  in respect  of 
meat  performance  and estimates  of breeding  value. 2. SPECIFIC  COMMENTS 
2.1. Proposal  for a Regulation 
2.1.1.  The  Committee  proposes  the  following 
wording  for the second  recital: 
'... whereas  the breeds  and  standards  in question 
vary  from  one  Member  State  to another  as a 
result  of  the  differences  in ecological  and 
economic  conditions  and  in the  requirements  of 
the breeders  and  the  markets;  whereas  there  is 
mutual  recognition  of the  majority  of individual 
herd-books,  and  in most  cases  they  are linked  in 
European  federations,  such  as the  Fleckvieh 
Breeders'  Association  and  the  Brown  Cattle 
Breeders'  Association  or even  the  world-wide 
bodies,  such  as the World  Association  of Friesian 
Breeders;  whereas,  nevertheless,  the  individual 
associations  have  different  conditions  of 
registration  and  different  performance-
measurement  procedures'. 
2.1.2.  The  Committee  proposes  the  following 
wording  for the third  recital: 
'Whereas,  for  the  complete  liberalization  of 
intra-community  trade  in pure-bred  breeding 
animals  it is necessary  to harmonize  certain 
regulations  concerning  the registration  of animals 
in herd-books  and,  above  all,  the  veterinary 
regulations,  which  still  vary  considerably'. 
2.1.3.  Article  1 
2.1.3.1.  In  the  Committee's  opinion,  the 
requirement  for animals'  grandparents  to be entered 
in the herd-book  is a controversial  issue  and  should 
be examined  by experts.  From  the  angle  of future 
conclusions  as to the  assessment  of breeding  value 
the definition  of the term  'pure-bred  breeding  animal 
of the  bovine  species'  must  be laid  down  by an 
appropriate  body.  The  decisive  factor  as far as this 
Regulation  is  concerned  should,  however,  be 
registered  as a pedigree  animal  in a recognized 
herd-book. 
2.1.4.  Article  2 
2.1.4.1.  The  Committee  considers  that  it should  be 
a general  principle  that  the  activities  referred  to in 
Article  2 should  not  be prohibited,  restricted  or 
impeded.  It therefore  urges  that  harmonization  of the 
veterinary  regulations  of the  individual  Member 
States  be proposed  by the Commission,  and  put  into 
effect  without  delay.  The  differences  between  these 
regulations,  as regards  both  pure-bred  breeding 
animals  and  ordinary  stock,  still  represent  very 
serious  trade  barriers. 
30. 9. 74 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 116/35 
2.1.4.2.  The  Committee  is working  on the premise 
that apart  from  the  differences  in veterinary 
regulations  and  the zootechnical  factors  mentioned  in 
the proposal  for a Regulation,  there  can  be no other 
justification  for trade  barriers  in this  field. 
2.1.5.  Article  3 
2.1.5.1.  The  fear  was  expressed  that  Articles  2 and 
3, taken  together  in that  order,  would  permit  every 
pure-bred  breeding  animal  which  met  the 
requirements  of the exporting  country  to be registered 
in the herd-book  of the importing  country. 
2.1.5.2.  The  Committee  considers  that  it must  be 
made  clear  that  the  obligation  to register  imported 
pure-bred  breeding  animals  can  only  apply  to 
animals  which  satisfy  the  requirements  of the 
importing  country. 
2.1.6.  Article  4 
2.1.6.1.  The  Committee  calls  for a better  transla-
tion of the French  term  'race  laitiere  ou mixte'  into 
German,  Dutch  and  English. 2.1.7.  Article  6 
2.1.7.1.  Provision  should  be made  for representa-
tives  of the professional  organizations  to be consulted 
on decisions  to be made  by the Standing  Committee 
on Zootechnics.  The  Committee  can  only  approve 
this proposal  for  a Regulation  and  any  future 
proposals  on the subject  if this  condition  is met. 
2.1.8.  Annexes 
2.1.8.1.  The  Committee  will  not  comment  on the 
various  technical  details  of the annexes.  However,  it 
requests  the Commission  to check  them  thoroughly, 
in collaboration  with  the breeders'  associations,  as it 
has the  impression  that  these  particulars  do not 
correspond  to  the  current  state  of  scientific 
knowledge  in this  field. 
2.2. Draft  Decision 
2.2.1.  The  Economic  and  Social  Committee 
considers  that  the  list  of tasks  of the  Standing 
Committee  on  Zootechnics  in point  III  of the 
explanatory  memorandum  is to be looked  upon  only 
as a series  of examples  and  not as a complete  list. 
Done  at Brussels,  27 June  1974. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Alfons  LAPPAS 
Opinion  on the 'Draft  recommendation  by the Council  to the Member  States  regarding 
cost allocations  and  action  by public  authorities  on environmental  matters' 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 68 of 12 June  1974,  pages  1 to 5. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 18 March  1974,  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  198  of the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community.