1999/696/EC: Commission Decision of 11 October 1999 recognising the fully operational character of the database of Northern Ireland for bovine animals (notified under document number C(1999) 3224) (Text with EEA relevance) (Only the English text is authentic)
Date: 1999-10-11
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: Northern Ireland, cattle, database

L 275/32

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

26. 10. 1999

recognising the fully operational character of the database of Northern Ireland for bovine animals

COMMISSION DECISION

of 11 October 1999

(notified under document number C(1999) 3224)

(Only the English text is authentic)

(Text with EEA relevance)

(1999/696/EC)

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European
Community,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 of 21
April 1997 establishing a system for the identification and
registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of
beef and beef products (1), and in particular Article 6(3), first
indent,

Having regard to the request
Kingdom,

submitted by the United

(1) Whereas on 25 March 1999 the British authorities
submitted to the Commission a request asking for recog-
nition of the fully operational character of the database
of Northern Ireland that forms part of the system for the
identification and registration of bovine animals in
Northern Ireland; whereas this request was accompanied
by appropriate information that was updated on 6 May
1999;

(2) Whereas Northern Ireland's authorities have undertaken
the commitment to improve the reliability of this data-
base by ensuring in particular that (i) the competent
authority shall take measures as to be able to correct
promptly any errors or deficiencies which could be
detected automatically or
following the appropriate
on-the-spot inspections, (ii) the delays for notification of
movements, births and deaths shall be properly imple-
mented to comply with current EU legislation and with
regard to movement notification to introduce measures
improving the reliability of the data-recording, (iii) the
competent authority shall take measures to improve the
procedures involved as regards replacement eartags,
notably distribution delays and traceability,
the
competent authority shall take measures to improve the
authentication and validation procedure of passports
and (v) the competent authority shall take measures to
improve the security conditions provided for the contin-
gency database; whereas, in addition, Northern Ireland's
authorities have undertaken the commitment to modify

(iv)

their current provisions regarding notification of the
status of the premium as to comply with the provisions
of Commission Regulation (EC) No 2629/97 of 29
December 1997 laying down detailed rules for the
implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97
as regards eartags, holding registers and passports in the
framework of the system of identification and registra-
tion of bovine animals (2), as last amended by Commis-
sion Regulation (EC) No 1663/1999 (3); whereas
Northern Ireland's authorities have undertaken the
commitment to implement those improvement meas-
ures at the latest by 31 October 1999; whereas Northern
Ireland's authorities have undertaken the commitment to
inform the Commission in the event of any problems
occurring during the implementation period of
the
abovementioned measures;

(3) Whereas in view of the evaluation of the situation in
Northern Ireland, it is appropriate to recognise the fully
operational character of the database for bovine animals,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

Northern Ireland's database for bovine animals is recognised as
fully operational from 1 November 1999.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland.

Done at Brussels, 11 October 1999.

For the Commission

David BYRNE

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ L 117, 7.5.1997, p. 1.

(2) OJ L 354, 29.12.1997, p. 19.
(3) OJ L 197, 29.7.1999, p. 27.