1. All animals on a holding shall be identified by at least two means of identification listed in Annex I and in compliance with rules adopted pursuant to paragraph 3 and approved by the competent authority. At least one of the means of identification shall be visible and bear a visible identification code.
The first subparagraph shall not apply to animals that were born before 1 January 1998 and that are not intended for intra-Union trade. Those animals shall be identified by at least one means of identification.
In order to ensure the adaptation to technical progress, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 22b concerning the addition of means of identification to the list set out in Annex I, whilst ensuring their interoperability.
The means of identification shall be allocated to the holding, distributed and applied to the animals in a manner determined by the competent authority.
The two means of identification, authorised in accordance with the delegated and implementing acts adopted pursuant to paragraph 3 and this paragraph and which are applied to one animal, shall bear the same unique identification code, which, together with the registration of the animals, makes it possible to identify the animal individually and the holding on which it was born.
2. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, where the characters forming the animal’s identification code do not permit the application of an electronic identifier with the same unique identification code, the Member State concerned may allow that, under the supervision of its competent authority, the second means of identification may bear a different code, provided each of the following conditions are fulfilled:
(a) the animal is born before the date of entry into force of the implementing acts referred to in point (c) of the second subparagraph of paragraph 3;
(b) full traceability is ensured;
(c) the individual identification of the animal, including the holding on which it was born, is possible;
(d) the animal is not intended for intra-Union trade.
3. To ensure adequate traceability and adaptability to technical progress and optimal functioning of the identification system, the Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 22b concerning the requirements for the means of identification set out in Annex I, and the transitional measures required for the introduction of a particular means of identification.
On the basis of the relevant ISO standards or other international technical standards adopted by recognised international standard-setting organisations, with the understanding that those international standards are able to guarantee, at the very least, a higher level of performance and reliability than ISO standards, the Commission shall lay down, by means of implementing acts, the necessary rules concerning:
(a) the format and design of the means of identification;
(b) technical procedures for the electronic identification of bovine animals; and
(c) the configuration of the identification code.
Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 23(2).
4. As from 18 July 2019 , the Member States shall ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place in order to provide for the identification of animals on the basis of an electronic identifier as an official means of identification in accordance with this Regulation.
As from 18 July 2019 , Member States may introduce national provisions making the use of an electronic identifier compulsory as one of the two means of identification provided for in paragraph 1.
Member States that make use of the option under the second subparagraph shall provide the Commission with the text of such national provisions and make this information available on the internet. The Commission shall assist the Member States in making this information available to the public by providing, on its website, the links to the relevant websites of the Member States.
5. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, bovine animals intended for cultural and sporting events, other than fairs and exhibitions, may be identified by alternative means of identification offering equivalent identification standards to those provided for in paragraph 1.
Holdings making use of alternative means of identification referred to in the first subparagraph shall be registered in the computerised database provided for in Article 5.
The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down the necessary rules concerning such registration. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 23(2).
In order to ensure traceability based on the identification standards equivalent to those provided for in paragraph 1, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 22b concerning the requirements for the alternative means of identification referred to in the first subparagraph, including transitional measures required for their introduction.
The Commission may lay down, by means of implementing acts, the rules concerning the format and design of the alternative means of identification, referred to in the first subparagraph, including transitional measures required for their introduction. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 23(2).
6. Member States shall communicate to each other and to the Commission a model of the means of identification used in their territory. They shall make this information available on the internet. The Commission shall assist the Member States in making this information available to the public by providing, on its website, the links to the relevant websites of the Member States.]