Where purebred breeding animals of the bovine, ovine, caprine and equine species are used for the collection of semen for artificial insemination, breed societies shall require that those purebred breeding animals are identified by analysis of their blood group or by any other appropriate method providing at least the same degree of certainty such as DNA analysis.

Where breeding animals of the bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine and equine species are used for the collection of oocytes and embryos, and where breeding animals of the porcine species are used for the collection of semen for artificial insemination, breed societies and breeding operations may require that those breeding animals are identified by one of the methods referred to in paragraph 1.

The appropriate authority may by regulations prescribe methods to be used for the verification of the identity of breeding animals.

Regulations under paragraph 3 may include (but are not limited to) provision for implementation of recommendations made by national or European Union reference centres, the International Committee for Animal Recording (‘ICAR’) or the International Society for Animal Genetics.