CELEX: 51995PC0733
Language: en
Date: 1996-01-10
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION designating the reference centre responsible for collaborating in the harmonization of the testing methods and the assessment of the results for pure-bred breeding animals of the bovine species

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)
 ---pagebreak---  ---pagebreak---                                 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) O J N o L 101,   17.4.1986, p. 37.
(3) OJ No L 207,     10.8.1994, p. 30.
(4) O J N o L 167,  26.6.1987,   p. 54.
 ---pagebreak---                           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_
 ---pagebreak--- 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,
                                             )
 ---pagebreak---                                          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
                                            ?
 ---pagebreak---                                              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.)
 ---pagebreak---                                                                   ISSN 0254-1475
                                                           COM(95) 733 final
                                              DOCUMENTS
EN                                                                            03
                                    Catalogue number : CB-CO-95-769-EN-C
                                                             ISBN 92-77-98769-3
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