Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 lays down zootechnical and genealogical rules for trade in breeding animals, and for their entry into the Union. Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 applies from 1 November 2018.

Article 30 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 lays down rules for the issuing, content and format of zootechnical certificates accompanying breeding animals and their germinal products (‘the zootechnical certificate’). It provides that where purebred breeding animals that have been entered in a breeding book maintained by a breed society are traded and where those purebred breeding animals are intended to be entered in another breeding book, those breeding animals are to be accompanied by a zootechnical certificate.

Article 30(6) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 provides that zootechnical certificates are to contain the information set out in the relevant Parts and Chapters of Annex V to that Regulation. Article 32(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 provides that, by way of derogation from Article 30(6) thereof, in the case of purebred breeding animals of the equine species, the information set out in Chapter I of Part 2 of Annex V thereto is to be contained in a single lifetime identification document for equidae and delegated acts are to be adopted concerning the content and format of such identification documents.

Chapter I of Part 2 of Annex V to Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 lays down rules concerning the information to be contained in the zootechnical certificate for purebred breeding animals. That information is to include the system of identification and the individual identification number given to the purebred breeding animal in accordance with Union animal health law on the identification and registration of the animals of the species concerned.

Therefore, it is necessary to establish the content and the format of the zootechnical certificate that is to be contained in the single lifetime identification document for equidae, by which equidae are to be identified in accordance with Article 114(1)(c) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and which must accompany purebred breeding animals of the equine species at all times including when they are traded within the Union.

Article 31 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 lays down derogations from requirements concerning the issuing, content and format of zootechnical certificates for trade in breeding animals. It provides that where the results of performance testing or genetic evaluation are publicly available on a website, a reference to that website where those results can be accessed may be provided in the zootechnical certificate instead of indicating those results in the zootechnical certificate. That possibility should be reflected in the requirements for the zootechnical certificate for trade in purebred breeding animals of the equine species laid down in this Regulation.

Part 3 of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 sets out additional requirements for breed societies establishing or maintaining breeding books for purebred breeding animals of the equine species. In accordance with point 1 of Part 3 of that Annex purebred breeding animals of the equine species are only to be entered in a breeding book if they are identified by a covering certificate and, where required by the breeding programme, as ‘foal at foot’. By way of derogation from that rule, a Member State or, if it so decides, its competent authority may authorise a breed society to enter purebred breeding animals of the equine species in the breeding book maintained by that breed society where those animals are identified by any other appropriate method that provides at least the same degree of certainty as a covering certificate such as parentage control based on DNA analysis or analysis of their blood groups, provided that that authorisation is in accordance with the principles established by the breed society which maintains the breeding book of the origin of that breed.

Taking into account the requirements set out in point 1 of Part 3 of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2016/1012, information on the covering certificate, on identification as ‘foal at foot’ and on results of parentage control should be reflected in the rules on the content of zootechnical certificates for purebred breeding animals of the equine species laid down in this Regulation.

In order to ensure the uniqueness and continuity of the identification of purebred breeding animals of the equine species and in accordance with the requirements set out in points 1(c) and 3 of Chapter I of Part 1 of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2016/1012, the unique code as provided for in Article 114(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, and the name of such breeding animals should be included in the zootechnical certificate for trade as a part of its identification details.

The format and content of the individual identification number referred to in point 3 of Chapter I of Part 1 of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 cannot be decided until delegated acts setting out the detailed requirements for the means and methods of identification, including their application and use, have been adoptedin accordance with Article 118(1)(a) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. However, blanks should be provided in the zootechnical certificate to enter the unique life number assigned to purebred breeding animals of the equine species in accordance with Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/262.

Until 21 April 2021, which is the date of application of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, Part I of the zootechnical certificate set out in the Annex to this Regulation is optional if a single lifetime identification document for equidae includes Section V of the model identification document set out in Part 1 of Annex I to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/262.

This Regulation should be applicable from 1 November 2018 in accordance with the date of application provided for in Regulation (EU) 2016/1012,