Animal breeding (zootechnical) standards

The Animal Breeding Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/1012) which applies across the UK, came into force on 1 November 2018.

This regulation lays down the rules for the trade in breeding animals and their germinal products, and for their entry into the European Union, including rules for the issuing of zootechnical certificates.

This legislation applies to purebred equines, cattle, sheep, pigs and goats, hybrid pigs and their germinal products (such as semen and embryos).

Trade of purebreed animals and germinal products

Breed societies and studbooks that are officially recognised must meet zootechnical rules and standards to trade purebred breeding animals and germinal products on preferable terms.

Trading on preferable terms means that animals and germinal products from recognised breed societies in one country are treated the same in other countries. Other countries currently include the EU, UK and some non-EU countries such as the USA and Australia.

Official recognition of breed societies

Organisations that want to trade on zootechnical terms must be an officially recognised breed society or operation, and must carry out one or more approved breeding programmes.

Organisations need to meet different criteria to become officially recognised and to have their breeding programme approved.

To be officially recognised, breed societies must:

• keep a breeding book for their herd of flock which lists their pedigree animals
• have legal status (e.g. be a limited company)
• employ qualified staff
• operate efficiently (e.g. handle and store information safely and manage complaints consistently)
• have rules of association which govern membership (e.g. rules against discrimination between members)
• be able to check the recording pedigrees of the breeding animals
• have a sufficiently large population of breeding animals within the geographical territories, and
• be able to generate and use data collected on breeding animals, if appropriate

Further information is available in this Guide to zootechnical rules and standards on the gov.uk site.

Apply for official recognition

If your society would like to apply for official recognition please contact:

The Scottish Government
Animal Health and Welfare Division
P Spur
Saughton House
Broomhouse Drive
Edinburgh
EH11 3XD

Email: animal.health@gov.scot

Legislation

The Zootechnical Standards (Scotland) Order 2019 – implements Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 in Scotland.

Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 – sets out the zootechnical and genealogical conditions for the breeding, trade in and entry into the Union of purebred breeding animals, hybrid breeding pigs and their germinal products.

Regulation (EU) 2017/717 - lays down rules for the model forms of zootechnical certificates for breeding animals and their germinal products.

Regulation (EU) 2017/1940 – lays down the rules for the content and format of zootechnical certificates issued for purebred breeding animals of the equine species contained in a single lifetime identification document for Equidae.

Commission Decision 84/247/EEC – lays down the criteria for approval of breeders’ organisations which establish or maintain herd books for pure bred breeding animals of the bovine species.

Commission Decision 90/254/EEC – lays down the criteria for the approval of breeders’ organisations which establish or maintain flock-book for pure breeding sheep and goats.

Commission Decision 92/353/EEC – lays down the criteria for the approval or recognition of breeders’ organisations which maintain or establish stud-books for registered Equidae.

Commission Decision 89/501/EEC – lays down the criteria for the approval of breeders’ organisations which establish or maintain herd books for pure bred breeding pigs.