Article 4

1.

Member States shall ensure that any keeper contained in the list provided for in Article 3(1)(a) keeps a register stating the number of animals present on the holding.

That register shall include an up-to-date record of movements (numbers of animals concerned by each entering and leaving operation) at least on the basis of aggregate movements, stating as appropriate their origin or destination, and the date of such movements.

The identification mark applied in conformity with Articles 5 and 8 shall be stated in all cases.

In the case of pure-bred and hybrid pigs, which are entered in a herd-book in accordance with Council Directive 88/661/EEC of 19 December 1988 on the zootechnical standards applicable to breeding animals of the porcine species10, an alternative registration system based on individual identification allowing the animals to be identified may be recognised in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 18 of Directive 90/425/EEC if it offers guarantees equivalent to a register.

2.

Member States shall also ensure that:

(a)

any keeper supplies the competent authority, upon request, with all information concerning the origin, identification and, where appropriate, the destination of animals which he has owned, kept, transported, marketed or slaughtered;

(b)

any keeper of animals to be moved to or from a market or collection centre provides a document, containing details of the animals in question, to the operator, on the market or in the collection centre, who is a keeper of the animals, on a temporary basis.

That operator may use the documents obtained in accordance with the first subparagraph to carry out the obligations laid down in the third subparagraph of paragraph 1;

(c)

the registers and information are available on the holding and to the competent authority, upon request, for a minimum period to be determined by the competent authority but which may not be less than three years.