CHAPTER IVCHECKS REQUIRED PRIOR TO ISSUING OF IDENTIFICATION DOCUMENTS AND METHODS OF IDENTITY VERIFICATION
Article 21Authorisation of alternative methods of identity verification
1.
By way of derogation from Article 18(1), Member States may authorise suitable alternative methods of identity verification of equidae born in the Union, including marks, which meet the requirements of Article 4(1)(b) and ensure that the identity of the equine animal recorded in the identification document can be verified.
2.
Member States shall ensure that:
(a)
the alternative methods of identity verification of equidae are not used as the sole means of identity verification of the majority of equidae identified in accordance with this Regulation on their territory;
(b)
visible marks applied to equidae for breeding and production cannot be confused with those reserved on their territory for use by issuing bodies referred to in Article 5(1)(a) on registered equidae;
(c)
any authorised alternative method of identity verification or any combination of those methods deliver at least the same guarantees as the transponder implanted in accordance with Article 18;
(d)
the information on the alternative method of identity verification applied to an individual equine animal can be described in a format capable of being digitalised and stored in a searchable way in a database established in accordance with Article 38.
3.
Member States intending to make use of the derogation provided for in paragraph 1 shall make information on their authorised alternative methods of identity verification available to the Commission, the other Member States and the public on the website referred to in Article 6(1).