No C 44/12 Official Journal of the European Communities 21.2.80 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Proposal for a Council Regulation relating to the zootechnkal standards applicable to 
breeding animals of the porcine species 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 25 January 1980) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard f.o 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 Par­
liament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas pig production occupies a very important 
place in Community agriculture and whereas satis­
factory results depend to a large extent on the use of 
pure-bred breeding animals; 
Whereas most Member States have hitherto 
endeavoured, as part of their national breeding 
policies, to promote the production of livestock of a 
limited number of breeds meeting specific 
zootechnical standards; whereas the breeds and 
standards vary from one Member State to another; 
whereas these disparities hinder intra-Community 
trade; disparities are also to be found in respect of these 
animals; 
Whereas, if these disparities are to be removed, 
thereby increasing agricultural productivity in this 
sector, intra-Community trade in all breeding pigs 
must be progessively liberalized; 
Whereas it must be possible for Member States to 
require pedigree certificates drawn up in accordance 
with a Community procedure to be presented; 
Whereas implementing measures in certain technical 
areas should be taken; whereas, for the application of 
such measures, a procedure should be laid down 
establishing close cooperation between Member States 
and the Commission within the Standing Committee 
on Zootechnics set up by Council Decision 
77/505/EEC ('); whereas, until such implementing 
measures are adopted, the provisions at present in 
force in the areas in question should remain 
unchanged; 
Whereas it must be ensured that breeding pigs cannot 
be imported from non-member countries subject to 
conditions which are less severe than those applied 
within the Community, 
Whereas the production of hybrid pigs has become 
fairly widespread in the Community; whereas O OJ No L 206, 12. 8. 1977, p. 11. 
21.2.80 Official Journal of the European Communities ' No C 44/13 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: Article 2 
Article 1 
For the purposes of this Regulation, the following 
definitions shall apply: 
(a) pure-bred breeding pig: any animal of the porcine 
species the parents and grandparents of which are 
entered or registered in a herd-book of the same 
breed and which is itself entered or registered and 
eligible for entry in such a herd-book; 
(b) hybrid breeding pig: any animal of the porcine 
species which: 
1. is produced by deliberate cross-breeding: The following shall not be prohibited, restricted or 
impeded on zootechnical grounds, provided that the 
requirements of this Regulation and the measures to 
be adopted pursuant to Article 6 are met: 
— intra-Community trade in pure-bred and hybrid 
breeding pigs, 
— intra-Community trade in the semen and embryos 
of pure-bred or hybrid breeding pigs, 
— the establishment of herd-books, provided that 
they comply with the requirements laid down 
pursuant to Article 6, 
— the recognition of breeders' associations or 
breeding undertakings which maintain herd-books 
in accordance with Article 6. 
— between animals of different breeds or 
lines, 
— between animals whieh are themselves the 
outcome of a cross between diffefent 
breeds or lines, 
— between pure-bred animals and animals 
belonging to either of the abovementioned 
categories; 
2. is entered in a herd-book; Article 3 
Member States may require or allow that certain 
imported pure-bred breeding pigs dispatched from 
another Member State and having specific charac­
teristics rendering them different from the population 
of the same breed to be found in the Member State of 
destination be entered in a separate section of the 
herd-book for the breed to which they belong. 
(c) herd-book: any book, register, file or data 
medium: 
— which is maintained by a breeders' association 
or a breeding undertaking officially recog­
nized by the Member State in which the 
breeders' association or breeding undertaking 
was constituted, and 
— in which pure-bred or hybrid breeding pigs 
are entered or registered with mention of their 
ancestors; Article 4 
Breeders' associations officially recognized by a 
Member State may not oppose the entering in their 
herd-books of pure-bred breeding pigs from other 
Member States, provided that they satisfy the 
requirements laid down in accordance with Article 6. 
Breeding undertakings shall be subject to the same 
requirement in respect of the entering of hybrid 
breeding pigs. 
(d) official recognition: that which is granted by the 
Member State: 
1. to breeders' associations and breeding under­
takings which maintain herd-books, 
2. to breeding undertakings which maintain their 
own books under the control and respon­
sibility of a recognized breeders' association. Article 5 
Member States may require that pure-bred pigs and 
the semen or embryos of such animals be 
accompanied, in intra-Community trade, by a 
pedigree certificate which complies with a specimen 
drawn up in accordance with the procedure laid 
down in Article 7, particularly with regard to 
zootechnical performance. 
No C 44/14 Official Journal of the European Communities 21.2.80 
Article 6 
1. The following shall be determined in accordance 
with the procedure laid down in Article 7: 
— performance monitoring methods and methods 
for assessing pigs' genetic value, 
— the criteria governing the recognition of breeders' 
associations and breeding undertakings, 
— the criteria governing the establishment of herd-
books, 
— the criteria governing entry in herd-books, 
— where necessary, requirements in respect of 
service and artificial insemination. 
2. Until the entry into force of the provisions 
provided for in the first, second and third indents of 
paragraph 1: 
(a) the checks referred to in the first indent of 
paragraph 1 officially carried out in each Member 
State and herd-books currently in existence shall 
be recognized by other Member States; 
(b) the recognition of breeders' associations and 
breeding undertakings shall continue to be 
governed by the rules at present in force in each 
Member State; 
(c) the establishment of new herd-books shall 
continue to meet the conditions currently in force 
in the Member States. 
Article 7 
1. Where the procedure laid down in this Article is 
to be used, matters shall without <lelay be referred by 
the chairman, either on his own initiative or at the 
request of a Member State, to the Standing 
Committee on Zootechnics (hereinafter referred to as 
'the Committee') set up by Decision 77/505/EEC. 2. Within the Committee the votes of Member 
States shall be weighted as provided for in Article 148 
(2) of the Treaty. The chairman shall not vote. 
3. The representative of the Commission shall 
submit a draft of the measures to be adopted. The 
Committee shall deliver its opinion on such measures 
within a time limit set by the chairman according to 
the urgency of the matters concerned. Opinions shall 
be delivered by a majority of 41 votes. 
4. The Commission shall adopt the measures and 
apply them immediately where they are in accordance 
with the opinion of the Committee. Where they are 
not in accordance with the opinion of the Committee 
or if no opinion is delivered, the Commission shall 
without delay propose to the Council the measures to 
be adopted. 
The Council shall adopt the measures by a qualified 
majority. 
If, within three months from the date on which the 
proposal was submitted to it, the Council has not 
adopted any measures, the Commission shall adopt 
the proposed measures and apply them immediately. 
Article 8 
Pending the implementation of Community rules on 
the subject, the zootechnical conditions applicable to 
imports of pure-bred breeding pigs from non-member 
countries must not be more favourable than those 
governing intra-Community trade. 
Article 9 
This Regulation shall enter into force on 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and 
direcdy applicable in all Member States.