CHAPTER V

Performance testing and genetic evaluation

Methods for performance testing and genetic evaluation
Article 25
Where a breed society or a breeding operation, or a third party designated in accordance with Article 27(1)(b), carries out performance testing or genetic evaluation of breeding animals, that breed society, breeding operation or third party shall ensure that such performance testing or genetic evaluation is carried out in accordance with the rules set out in:
1. in the case of purebred breeding animals of the bovine, porcine, ovine and caprine species and in the case of hybrid breeding pigs, Annex III;
2. in the case of purebred breeding animals of the equine species, the breeding programme carried out by that breed society as approved in accordance with Article 8(3), and, where applicable, Article 12.

Requirements for performance testing and genetic evaluation
Article 26
1
The appropriate authority may by regulations amend Annex 3 in order to take account of—
a
scientific advances;
b
technical developments;
c
the need to preserve valuable genetic resources.
2
The appropriate authority may by regulations prescribe requirements for the performance testing and genetic evaluation of purebred breeding animals of the bovine, ovine and caprine species.
3
Regulations under paragraph 2 may include (but are not limited to)—
a
methods for the interpretation of the results of performance testing and genetic evaluation;
b
provision for implementation of recommendations of United Kingdom reference centres (‘reference centres’) or European Union reference centres, or of the principles agreed by ICAR.

Carrying out of performance testing and genetic evaluation
Article 27
1
Where performance testing or genetic evaluation is to be carried out according to the breeding programme approved in accordance with Article 8(3), and, where applicable, Article 12, breed societies and breeding operations shall:
a
carry out that performance testing or genetic evaluation themselves; or
b
designate the third parties to which that performance testing or genetic evaluation is to be outsourced.
2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4
By way of derogation from Article 8(4)(a), an appropriate authority or its competent authority may decide that a third party designated in accordance with paragraph 1(b) of this Article, shall be responsible to that competent authority for ensuring compliance with the requirements provided for in this Regulation applicable to that outsourced performance testing or genetic evaluation.
5
Breed societies or breeding operations themselves carrying out performance testing or genetic evaluation or third parties designated by a breed society or breeding operation in accordance with point (b) of paragraph 1 of this Article may commit themselves to comply with the rules and standards established by ICAR or by reference centres referred to in Article 29.
The results of such commitments or the participation in such activities may be taken into account by the competent authorities when recognising those breed societies or breeding operations, approving their breeding programmes ... or carrying out official controls on those operators.
6
Breed societies and breeding operations shall make publicly available the detailed information on those who carry out the performance testing or genetic evaluation.

Obligations of breed societies, breeding operations and third parties carrying out performance testing or genetic evaluation
Article 28
1
Where a breed society or a breeding operation carries out performance testing or genetic evaluation of breeding animals or outsources those activities to a third party in accordance with Article 27(1)(b), that breed society or breeding operation shall, at the request of the competent authority referred to in Article 8(3), or, where applicable, in Article 12(5), provide the following information:
a
records of all data resulting from performance testing and genetic evaluation in relation to breeding animals from holdings located on the territory where that competent authority operates;
b
details of the recording methods for traits;
c
details of the model of performance description used for the analysis of the results of performance testing;
d
details of the statistical methods used for the analysis of the results of performance testing for each evaluated trait;
e
details of the genetic parameters used for each evaluated trait, including, where applicable, details of the genomic evaluation.
2
The breed society or breeding operation or, on request by that breed society or breeding operation, the third party designated by that breed society or breeding operation in accordance with Article 27(1)(b), shall make the results of the genetic evaluation of breeding animals whose semen is used for artificial insemination in accordance with Article 21(1)(b), (c) and (d) and Article 24(1)(b) publicly available and shall keep them up-to-date.
Art. 26 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Animals (Legislative Functions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/588), regs. 1, 11(4) (with reg. 12); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Art. 27(2) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Animal Breeding (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/117), regs. 1, 7(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Art. 27(3) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Animal Breeding (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/117), regs. 1, 7(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 27(4) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Animal Breeding (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/117), regs. 1, 7(b)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 27(4) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Animal Breeding (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/117), regs. 1, 7(b)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 27(5) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Animal Breeding (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/117), regs. 1, 7(c)(i); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)
Words in Art. 27(5) omitted (31.12.2020) by virtue of The Animal Breeding (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/117), regs. 1, 7(c)(ii); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)