(4)

Tracing of beef to source via identification and registration is a prerequisite for origin labelling throughout the food chain ensuring consumer protection and public health.

(4)

Tracing of beef to source via identification and registration is a prerequisite for origin labelling throughout the food chain. Those measures ensure consumer protection and public health and promote consumer confidence.

(6)

The use of electronic identification systems would potentially streamline traceability processes through automated and more accurate reading and recording into the holding register. It would enable also automated reporting of animal movements into the computerised data base and thus improve speed, reliability and accuracy of the system.

(6)

The use of electronic identification systems would potentially streamline traceability processes through automated and more accurate reading and recording into the holding register. It would enable also automated reporting of animal movements into the computerised data base and thus improve speed, reliability and accuracy of the system. It would improve the management of direct payments paid to farmers per animal head through better controls and reduced risk of payment errors.

(7)

Electronic identification systems based on radio frequency identification have considerably improved in the last ten years. That technology allows a faster and more accurate reading of individual animal identity codes directly into data processing systems resulting on a reduction of time needed to trace potential infected animals or infected food, saving labour costs but at the same time increasing equipment costs.

(7)

Electronic identification systems based on radio frequency identification have considerably improved in the last 10 years , even though International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) standards still need to be applied, and they need to be tested for bovines . That technology allows a faster and more accurate reading of individual animal identity codes directly into data processing systems resulting in a reduction of time needed to trace potential infected animals or infected food, leading to improved databases and an increased capacity to react promptly in the event of disease outbreaks, saving labour costs but at the same time increasing equipment costs. If the electronic identification is faulty, the failure of the technology must not result in penalty payments being imposed on farmers.

(9)

Given the technological advances in EID, several Member States have decided to start to implement bovine EID on a voluntary basis. Those initiatives are likely to lead to different systems to be developed in individual Member States or by stakeholders. Such a development would impede later harmonisation of technical standards within the Union.

(9)

Given the technological advances in EID, several Member States have decided to start to implement bovine EID on a voluntary basis. Those initiatives are likely to lead to different systems to be developed in individual Member States or by stakeholders. Such a development would impede later harmonisation of technical standards within the Union. It should be ensured that the systems introduced in the Member States are interoperable and consistent with ISO standards.

(16)

Making EID mandatory throughout the Union may have economically adverse effects on certain operators. It is therefore appropriate that a voluntary regime for the introduction of EID is established. Under such a regime, EID would be chosen by keepers that are likely to have immediate economic benefits.

(16)

Making EID mandatory throughout the Union may have economically adverse effects on certain operators. Furthermore, there are practical problems which continue to hinder the effective operation of EID, especially with regard to the accuracy of the technology . Experience of implementing mandatory electronic identification for small ruminants demonstrates that due to faulty technology and practical difficulties it is frequently impossible to achieve 100 % accuracy . It is therefore appropriate that a voluntary regime is established. Such a regime would enable EID to be chosen only by keepers that are likely to have rapid economic benefits.

(17)

Member States have very different husbandry systems, farming practices and sector organisations. Member States should therefore be allowed to make EID compulsory on their territory only when they deem it appropriate, after considering all those factors.

(17)

Member States have very different husbandry systems, farming practices and sector organisations. Member States should therefore be allowed to make EID compulsory on their territory only when they deem it appropriate, after considering all those factors , including any negative impact on small farmers, and following consultation with organisations representing the beef industry .

(18)

Animals entering the Union from third countries should be subject to the same identification requirements that apply to animals born in the Union.

(18)

Animals and meat entering the Union from third countries should be subject to the same identification and traceability requirements that apply to animals born in the Union.

(19)

Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 provides that the competent authority is to issue a passport for each animal which has to be identified in accordance with that Regulation. This causes a considerable administrative burden for the Member States. The computerised databases established by Member States sufficiently ensure traceability of domestic movements of bovine animals. Passports should therefore be issued only for animals intended for intra-Union trade. Once the data exchange between national computerised databases is operational, the requirement of issuing such passports should no longer apply for animals intended for intra-Union trade.

(19)

Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 provides that the competent authority is to issue a passport for each animal which has to be identified in accordance with that Regulation. This causes a considerable administrative burden for the Member States. The computerised databases established by Member States should sufficiently ensure traceability of domestic movements of bovine animals. Passports should therefore be issued only for animals intended for intra-Union trade. Once the data exchange between national computerised databases is operational, the requirement of issuing such passports should no longer apply for animals intended for intra-Union trade.

(19a)

So far, there is no specific legislation on cloning. However, opinion polls show that this issue is of great interest to the European public. It is therefore appropriate to ensure that beef derived from cloned animals or their descendants is labelled as such.

(20)

Section II of Title II of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 lays down rules for a voluntary beef labelling system which provide for the approval of certain labelling specifications by the competent authority of the Member State. The administrative burden and the costs incurred by Member States and economic operators in applying this system are not proportionate to the benefits of the system. That Section should therefore be deleted.

(20)

Section II of Title II of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 lays down rules for a voluntary beef labelling system which provide for the approval of certain labelling specifications by the competent authority of the Member State. In view of developments in the beef sector since the above Regulation was adopted, the beef labelling system needs to be revised. Since the system of voluntary beef labelling is neither effective nor useful, it should be deleted , without compromising the right of operators to inform consumers through voluntary labelling . Consequently, as for any other sort of meat, information which goes beyond mandatory labelling, this means in this particular case what is required by Articles 13 and 15 of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, and is extremely important to consumers and farmers, for example breed, feed and husbandry, will have to respect the current horizontal legislation, including Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers (2). Beyond this, the deletion is also balanced by the formulation, in this Regulation, of general rules ensuring consumer protection.

(22)

In order to ensure that the necessary rules for the proper functioning of the identification, registration and traceability of bovine animals and beef are applied, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty should be delegated to the Commission in respect of requirements for alternative means of identification of bovine animals, special circumstances in which Member States may extend the maximum periods for the application of the means of identification, data to be exchanged between the computerised databases of the Member States, the maximum period for certain reporting obligations, the requirements for means of identification, the information to be included in the passports and in the individual registers to be kept on each holding, the minimum level of official controls, the identification and registration of movements of bovine animals when put out to summer grazing in different mountain areas , rules for labelling certain products which should be equivalent to the rules laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, the definitions of minced beef, beef trimmings or cut beef, the specific indications that may be put on labels, the labelling provisions related to the simplification of the indication of origin, the maximum size and composition of certain groups of animals, the approval procedures related to labelling conditions on packaging of cut meat and the administrative sanctions to be applied by the Member States in cases of non-compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. The Commission, when preparing and drawing-up such delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council.

(22)

In order to ensure that the necessary rules for the proper functioning of the identification, registration and traceability of bovine animals and beef are applied, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 of the Treaty should be delegated to the Commission in respect of requirements for alternative means of identification of bovine animals, special circumstances in which Member States may extend the maximum periods for the application of the means of identification, data to be exchanged between the computerised databases of the Member States, the maximum period for certain reporting obligations, the requirements for means of identification, the information to be included in the passports and in the individual registers to be kept on each holding, the minimum level of official controls, the identification and registration of movements of bovine animals during different types of seasonal transhumance , rules for labelling certain products which should be equivalent to the rules laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, the definitions of minced beef, beef trimmings or cut beef, the maximum size and composition of certain groups of animals, the approval procedures related to labelling conditions on packaging of cut meat and the administrative sanctions to be applied by the Member States in cases of non-compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. The Commission, when preparing and drawing-up such delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council.

(23)

In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 with respect to the registration of holdings making use of alternative means of identification, technical characteristics and modalities for the exchange of data between the computerised databases of Member States, the format and design of the means of identification, technical procedures and standards for the implementation of EID, the format of the passports and of the register to be kept on each holding, rules concerning the modalities for the application of the sanctions imposed by the Member States on holders pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, corrective actions to be taken by the Member States to ensure proper compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, in cases where on-the-spot checks so justify, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers.

(23)

In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 with respect to the registration of holdings making use of alternative means of identification, technical characteristics and modalities for the exchange of data between the computerised databases of Member States, the declaration that the data exchange system between Member States is fully operational, the format and design of the means of identification, technical procedures and standards for the implementation of EID, the format of the passports and of the register to be kept on each holding, rules concerning the modalities for the application of the sanctions imposed by the Member States on holders pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, corrective actions to be taken by the Member States to ensure proper compliance with Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000, in cases where on-the-spot checks so justify, and the necessary rules to ensure proper compliance in particular as regards controls, administrative sanctions, and various maximum periods laid down in this Regulation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers.

(23a)

The implementation of this Regulation should be monitored. Consequently, no later than five years after the entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission should submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a report dealing both with the implementation of this Regulation and with the technical and economic feasibility of introducing mandatory electronic identification everywhere in the Union. If this report concludes that electronic identification should become mandatory, it should, if appropriate, be accompanied by an appropriate legislative proposal. That legislation would remove risks of distortion of competition within the internal market.

(1a)

In Article 2, the following definition is added:

" "cloned animals" means animals produced by means of a method of asexual, artificial reproduction with the aim of producing a genetically identical or nearly identical copy of an individual animal,".

(1b)

In Article 2, the following definition is added:

" "descendants of cloned animals" means animals produced by means of sexual reproduction, in cases in which at least one of the progenitors is a cloned animal,".

(b)

60 days for the second means of identification.

(b)

60 days for the second means of identification, for reasons related to the physiological development of the animals .

(ca)

in the case of animals exported to third countries, the passport shall be surrendered by the last keeper to the competent authority at the place where the animal is exported.

(b)

enters up-to-date information directly into the computerised database within twenty-four hours of the occurrence of the event.

(b)

enters up-to-date information directly into the computerised database within 72 hours of the occurrence of the event.

(e)

the identification and registration of movements of bovine animals when put out to summer grazing in different mountain areas .

(e)

the identification and registration of movements of bovine animals during different types of seasonal transhumance.

(ba)

The following paragraph is added:

"5a.     As from (3), operators and organisations shall also indicate on their labels where the beef is derived from cloned animals or descendants of cloned animals."

14)

Articles 16, 17 and 18 are deleted.

14)

Starting from 1 January 2014, the heading of section II of title II shall be replaced by the words ‘Voluntary labelling’, Articles 16, 17 and 18 are deleted , and Article 15a shall be inserted into section II of title II:

‘Article 15a

General rules

Information other than that specified in part I of this Title which is added to labels by operators or organisations marketing beef must be objective, verifiable by the relevant authorities and comprehensible to consumers.

Moreover, voluntary beef labelling has to respect the current horizontal legislation on labelling and Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers.

The competent authority shall verify the truthfulness of the voluntary information. In the event of a failure on the part of operators or organisations marketing beef to comply with these obligations, the sanctions laid down in accordance with Article 22(4a) will be applied.’

(b)

the specific indications that may be put on labels;

(b)

definition of and requirements for the specific indications that may be put on labels;

(19a)

The following Article is inserted:

"Article 23a

Report and legislative developments

No later than five years after the entry into force of this Regulation, the Commission shall submit to Parliament and the Council a report dealing both with implementation of this Regulation and with the technical and economic feasibility of introducing mandatory electronic identification everywhere in the Union. If this report concludes that electronic identification should become mandatory, it shall be accompanied by an appropriate legislative proposal.".