COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 10.01.1996 
COM(95) 733 final 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL DECISION 
designating the reference centre responsible for collaborating in the harmonization of the 
testing methods and of the assessment of the results for pure-bred breeding animals of 
the bovine species 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
Within the framework of its policy on livestock farming, the Council adopted 
Directive 77/504/EEC(1) on pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species. Its purpose is 
to facilitate trade in pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species, thus promoting the 
productivity of livestock farming in the Community. 
The methods for the genetic assessment of bovine animals are laid down in Commission 
Decision 86/130/EEC(2), as last amended by Decision 94/515/EC(3). 
Council Directive 87/328/EEC(4) lays down the conditions for the acceptance for breeding 
purposes of pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species used mainly for artificial 
insemination. Article 5 of that Directive provides that the Council, acting on a proposal from 
the Commission, is to designate one or more reference centres as being responsible for 
collaborating in the harmonization of the testing methods and of the assessment of the 
results. The centre will therefore be responsible for coordinating the methods for testing 
pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species in order to ensure that the results of these 
assessments in the various Member States are comparable. 
The centre proposed is INTERBULL in Sweden, which is already recognized at world level 
by ICAR (International Committee on Animal Recording). Its purpose is to facilitate the 
comparison of genetic assessments of dairy cattle in the Member States. 
This is the purpose of this Decision. 
This Decision has no implications for the Community budget. 
(1) OJNoL206, 12.8.1977, p. 8. 
(2) OJNoL 101, 17.4.1986, p. 37. 
(3) OJ No L 207, 10.8.1994, p. 30. 
(4) OJNoL 167, 26.6.1987, p. 54. 
PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION 
of 
designating the reference centre responsible for collaborating in the harmonization of the 
testing methods and of the assessment of the results for pure-bred breeding animals of 
the bovine species 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Having regard to Council Directive 87/328/EEC of 18 June 1987 on the acceptance for 
breeding purposes of pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species(1), and in particular 
Article 5 thereof, 
Whereas, in order to harmonize the testing methods and the assessment of the results when 
pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species are accepted for breeding purposes, a 
reference centre should be designated; 
Whereas the powers and duties of that centre should be defined; 
Whereas, in the light of experience gained, the INTERBULL Centre should be designated as' 
being the reference centre responsible for collaborating in the harmonization of the testing 
methods and of the assessment of the results for pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine 
species, 
(1) OJ No L 167, 26.6.1987, p. 54. Z_ 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
1. The centre given in Annex I is hereby designated as the reference centre responsible for 
collaborating in the harmonization of the testing methods and of the assessment of the 
results for pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species. 
2. The duties of the centre designated in paragraph 1 shall be as set out in Annex II. 
Article 2 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 
Done at Brussels, For the Council, 
) 
ANNEX I 
Name of the centre: 
INTERBULL Centre 
Department of animal breeding and genetics 
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences 
Box: 7023 
S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden 
tel: +46/18/671974 
fax: +46/18/672648 
e-mail: Georgios.Banos@hfs.slu.se 
? 
ANNEX II 
The duties of the centre designated in Article 1(1) are as follows: 
1) to be the documentation and information centre for the methods of testing and assessing 
the genetic value of pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species for the Member 
States of the European Union as laid down in Decision 86/130/EEC(1). This duty will be 
accomplished by: 
gathering information on the improvement plans established by the various 
stockbreeders' organizations and associations keeping herd books, 
regularly receiving the results of genetic assessments and genealogical registrations 
in the various Member States, 
comparing the various methods of testing and assessing the genetic value of pure­
bred breeding animals of the bovine species. 
2) provide assistance in order to contribute to the harmonization of the various methods of 
testing and assessing the genetic value of pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine 
species, in particular by recommending the calculation methods to be used or by 
establishing selection programmes including testing. 
3) provide assistance in order to permit the comparison of the results of the methods of 
testing and assessing the genetic value of animals in the various Member States, in 
particular by: 
developing control procedures to enable assessments to be made in the various 
Member States so as to improve the relevance of the results and the effectiveness of 
the selection programmes, 
carrying out an international assessment of livestock on the basis of the genetic 
assessment made in the various Member States, 
distributing the individual results of the international assessments 
publishing the conversion formulae and all related genetic work. 
4) to help the bodies referred to in point 1 of the Annex to Decision 86/130/EEC to take part 
in a comparison of the results of the assessment of genetic value at international level. 
5) to review the problems of assessing pure-bred breeding animals and attempt to resolve 
the problems linked to the genetic assessment carried out in the various Member States. 
(1) OJ No L 101, 17.4.1986, p. 37, as last amended by Decision 94/515/EC (OJ No L 207, 
10.8.1994, p. 30.) 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(95) 733 final 
DOCUMENTS 
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Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-769-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-98769-3 
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