Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 lays down rules concerning the identification and registration of bovine animals. In order to permit movements of bovine animals to be traced, that Regulation provides that all animals are to be identified by at least two means of identification listed in Annex I thereto, bearing the same unique identification code. The means of identification listed in that Annex include a conventional ear tag and an electronic identifier in the form of an electronic ear tag or a ruminal bolus or an injectable transponder.

The most appropriate configuration of the identification code for bovine animals, to be consistent with the standards set by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) for the identification of animals, is either the two-letter alpha country code or the three-digit numeric country code and an individual code for the animal consisting of a maximum 12 digits.

The configuration of the identification code for bovine animals should be applicable for both conventional ear tags and electronic identifiers and such codes should be interoperable, electronically exchangeable and readable in all Member States. Accordingly, Regulation (EC) No 911/2004 should be amended to refer to the identification code to be laid down in this Regulation.

Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 911/2004 provides that Spain, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and the United Kingdom may maintain their system of an alphanumeric code for the 12 digits following the country code in respect of animals born until 31 December 1999 for Spain, Ireland, Italy and Portugal and for the United Kingdom in respect of animals born until 30 June 2000. As the rules for the configuration of the identification code for bovine animals laid down in this Regulation are intended to replace those laid down in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EC) No 911/2004, this Regulation should also provide for that derogation.

Article 5 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 provides that Member States have to set up a computerised database for bovine animals where the competent authority of the Member State has to record the identification code for bovine animals. In addition, Article 4(4) of that Regulation sets out the date from which the Member States have to ensure the full operability of the infrastructure required for making use of an electronic identifier as an official means of identification for bovine animals. This infrastructure includes the computerised database.

To facilitate the smooth transition from the conventional ear tags to electronic identifiers, it is appropriate to lay down the interim measures for the recoding of the identification code for bovine animals in the computerised database until the full operability of the infrastructure required for the use of an electronic identifier by the Member States is ensured.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,