Search Legislation

Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004Show full title

Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 of 17 December 2003 establishing a system for the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals and amending Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 and Directives 92/102/EEC and 64/432/EEC

 Help about what version

What Version

 Help about advanced features

Advanced Features

 Help about UK-EU Regulation

Legislation originating from the EU

When the UK left the EU, legislation.gov.uk published EU legislation that had been published by the EU up to IP completion day (31 December 2020 11.00 p.m.). On legislation.gov.uk, these items of legislation are kept up-to-date with any amendments made by the UK since then.

Close

This item of legislation originated from the EU

Legislation.gov.uk publishes the UK version. EUR-Lex publishes the EU version. The EU Exit Web Archive holds a snapshot of EUR-Lex’s version from IP completion day (31 December 2020 11.00 p.m.).

Changes to legislation:

Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 09 January 2025. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations. Help about Changes to Legislation

Close

Changes to Legislation

Revised legislation carried on this site may not be fully up to date. Changes and effects are recorded by our editorial team in lists which can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area. Where those effects have yet to be applied to the text of the legislation by the editorial team they are also listed alongside the legislation in the affected provisions. Use the ‘more’ link to open the changes and effects relevant to the provision you are viewing.

View outstanding changes

Changes and effects yet to be applied to :

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole legislation item and associated provisions

Article 1U.K.

1.[F1The appropriate Minister] shall establish a system for the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation.

2.This Regulation shall apply without prejudice to [F2rules set out in retained EU direct legislation] which may be established for disease eradication or control purposes, and without prejudice to Directive 91/496/EEC and Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003.

Article 2U.K.

For the purpose of this Regulation:

(a)

‘animal’ shall mean any animal of the ovine or caprine species;

(b)

‘holding’ shall mean any establishment, any structure, or in the case of free-range farming, any environment, in which animals are held, reared or handled on a permanent or temporary basis, except veterinary practices or clinics;

(c)

‘keeper’ shall mean any natural or legal person with responsibility for animals, even temporarily, except veterinary practices or clinics;

(d)

‘competent authority’ shall mean the F3... authority or authorities [F4whose functions include] carrying out veterinary checks and implementing this Regulation, or, in the case of monitoring for premiums, the authority [F5whose functions include] implementing Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003;

[F6(g)for the meaning of ‘the appropriate Minister’ see Article 2a.]

[F7(e)‘the appropriate Minister’ means:

(i)in relation to England, the Secretary of State;

(ii)in relation to Wales, the Welsh Ministers;

(iii)in relation to Scotland, the Scottish Ministers.

[F7(f)‘third country’ means any country or territory other than:

(i)the United Kingdom;

(ii)the Bailiwick of Jersey;

(iii)the Bailiwick of Guernsey;

(iv)the Isle of Man; or

(v)a Member State.]]

[F8 Article 2a U.K. Definition of appropriate Minister

1.Subject to paragraph 2, for the purposes of making regulations ‘the appropriate Minister’ means—

(a)for regulations applying in relation to England, the Secretary of State;

(b)for regulations applying in relation to Wales, the Welsh Ministers;

(c)for regulations applying in relation to Scotland, the Scottish Ministers.

2.For the purposes of making regulations, ‘the appropriate Minister’ is the Secretary of State if consent is given by—

(a)for regulations applying in relation to Wales, the Welsh Ministers;

(b)for regulations applying in relation to Scotland, the Scottish Ministers.]

Article 3U.K.

1.The system for the identification and registration of animals shall comprise the following elements:

(a)means of identification to identify each animal;

(b)up-to-date registers kept on each holding;

(c)movement documents;

(d)a central register or a computer database.

[F92.The appropriate Minister and the competent authority shall have access to all information covered by this Regulation. The appropriate Minister shall take the measures necessary to ensure access to that information for all parties having an interest, including consumers organisations recognised by the appropriate Minister, provided that the data protection and confidentiality requirements prescribed by national law are complied with.]

Article 4U.K.

1.All animals on a holding born after 9 July 2005 [F10or for Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia the respective date of accession] shall be identified in accordance with paragraph 2 within a period to be determined by the [F11appropriate Minister] as from the birth of the animal and in any case before the animal leaves the holding on which it was born. That period shall not be longer than six months.

By way of derogation [F12the appropriate Minister] may extend the period, which may not, however, exceed nine months, for animals kept in extensive or free-range farming conditions.F13... F14...

2.(a)Animals shall be identified by a first means of identification which complies with the requirements of Section A.1 to A.3 of the Annex, and,

(b)by a second means of identification approved by the competent authority and conforming to the technical characteristics listed in Section A.4 of the Annex.

(c)However, until the date referred to in Article 9(3), the second means of identification may be replaced by the system set out in Section A.5 of the Annex, except in the case of animals involved in [F15export to a Member State].

F16(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3.However for animals intended for slaughter before the age of 12 months and intended neither for [F15export to a Member State] nor for export to third countries, the identification method described in Section A.7 of the Annex may be authorised by the competent authority as an alternative to the means of identification mentioned in paragraph 2.

4.Any animal imported from a third country, which has undergone after 9 July 2005 [F10or for Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia the respective date of accession] the checks laid down by Directive 91/496/EEC and which remains within the territory of [F17Great Britain] shall be identified, in accordance with paragraph 2, at the holding of destination where livestock farming is carried out within a period, to be determined by the [F18appropriate Minister], of no more than 14 days from undergoing those checks and, in any event, before leaving the holding.

The original identification established by the third country shall be recorded in the holding register provided for in Article 5 together with the identification code allocated to it by the [F19competent authority].

However, the identification provided for in paragraph 1 is not necessary for an animal intended for slaughter if the animal is transported directly from the veterinary border inspection post to a slaughterhouse F20... where the checks referred to in the first subparagraph are carried out and the animal is slaughtered within five working days of undergoing those checks.

5.Any animal originating in [F21a] Member State shall retain its original identification.

6.No means of identification may be removed or replaced without the permission of the competent authority. Where a means of identification has become illegible or has been lost, a replacement bearing the same code shall be applied as soon as possible in accordance with this Article. In addition to the code and distinct from it, the replacement may bear a mark with the version number of the replacement.

However, the competent authority may, under its control, allow the replacement means of identification to bear a different code, provided that the objective of traceability is not compromised, in particular in the case of animals identified in accordance with paragraph 3.

7.The means of identification shall be allocated to the holding, distributed and applied to the animals in a manner determined by the competent authority.

F228.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9.Until the date referred to in Article 9(3), [F23where the appropriate Minister has] introduced electronic identification on a voluntary basis in accordance with the provisions of Section A.4 and A.6 of the Annex [F24, the appropriate Minister] shall ensure that the individual electronic identification number and the characteristics of the means used are mentioned in the relevant certificate pursuant to Directive 91/68/EEC accompanying animals involved in [F15export to a Member State].

Textual Amendments

Article 5U.K.

1.Each keeper of animals, with the exception of the transporter, shall keep an up-to-date register containing at least the information listed in Section B of the Annex.

2.[F25This article does not prevent the exercise by the appropriate Minister of any power to] require keepers to enter further information in the register referred to in paragraph 1, in addition to that listed in Section B of the Annex.

3.The register shall be in a format approved by the competent authority, kept in manual or computerised form, and be available at all times on the holding and to the competent authority, upon request, for a minimum period to be determined by the competent authority but which may not be less than three years.

4.By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the register of information required by Section B of the Annex shall be optional F26... where a centralised computer database which already contains this information is operational.

5.Each keeper shall supply the competent authority, upon request, with all information concerning the origin, identification and, where appropriate, the destination of animals which the keeper has owned, kept, transported, marketed or slaughtered in the last three years.

F276.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Article 6U.K.

1.As from 9 July 2005 [F10or for Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia the respective date of accession] whenever an animal is moved within the national territory between two separate holdings, it shall be accompanied by a movement document based on a model drawn up by the competent authority, containing at least the minimum information listed in Section C of the Annex, and completed by the keeper if the competent authority has not already done this.

2.[F28The appropriate Minister] may enter further information, in addition to that contained in Section C of the Annex, on the movement document referred to in paragraph 1, or require that such information be entered.

3.The keeper at the holding of destination shall keep the movement document for a minimum period to be determined by the competent authority but which may not be less than three years. On request, he shall supply the competent authority with a copy thereof.

4.By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the movement document shall be optional F29... where a centralised computer database containing at least the information required by Section C of the Annex, except for the keeper's signature, is operational.

F305.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Article 7U.K.

1.[F31The appropriate Minister] shall ensure that the competent authority has a central register of all the holdings relating to keepers of animals in their territory except transporters.

2.The register shall include the identification code of the holding or, if authorised by the competent authority, that of the keeper, other than transporter, the occupation of the keeper, the type of production (meat or milk) and the species kept. If the keeper keeps animals permanently, he shall make an inventory of the animals kept at regular intervals fixed by the competent authority F32... and in any case at least annually.

3.A holding shall remain on the central register until three consecutive years have elapsed with no animals on the holding. With effect from 9 July 2005 [F10or for Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia the respective date of accession] the register shall be included in the computer database referred to in Article 8(1).

Article 8U.K.

1.As from 9 July 2005 [F10or for Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia the respective date of accession] the competent authority F33... shall set up a computer database in accordance with Section D.1 of the Annex.

2.Each keeper of animals, with the exception of the transporter, shall, within a period of 30 days as regards information relating to the keeper or the holding and within a period of seven days as regards information relating to movements of animals, provide the competent authority with:

(a)the information for entry in the central register and the outcome of the inventory, mentioned in Article 7(2), and the information required for the setting up of the database referred to in paragraph 1;

(b)[F34where] the derogation referred to in Article 6(4) [F35is applied], each time an animal is moved, the details of the movement, as set out in the movement document referred to in Article 6.

3.The competent authority F36... may, if it so wishes, set up a computer database containing at least the information listed in Section D.2 of the Annex.

4.[F37The appropriate Minister] may enter in the computer database referred to in paragraphs 1 and 3 further information in addition to that listed in Sections D.1 and D.2 of the Annex.

5.As from 1 January 2008, [F38or for Croatia the date of accession,] the database referred to in paragraph 3 shall be obligatory.

Textual Amendments

Article 9U.K.

F391.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F392.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F403.As from 31 December 2009, [F38or for Croatia the date of accession,] electronic identification according to the guidelines referred to in [F41Commission Decision (EC) No 2006/968 implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 as regards guidelines and procedures for the electronic identification of ovine and caprine animals], and in accordance with the relevant provisions of Section A of the Annex, shall be obligatory for all animals.]

[F42However, if the total number of ovine and caprine animals in Great Britain is 600 000 or less, the appropriate Minister may make such electronic identification optional for animals not involved in export to the European Union.]

[F42If the total number of caprine animals in Great Britain is 160 000 or less the appropriate Minister may also make such electronic identification optional for caprine animals not involved in export to the European Union.]

F434.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

Article 10U.K.

1.Amendments to the Annexes and measures necessary for the implementation of this Regulation [F44may be made by regulations by the appropriate Minister].

These measures shall concern in particular:

(a)the minimum level of checks to be carried out;

(b)the application of administrative penalties;

(c)the necessary transitional provisions for the start-up period of the system.

2.[F45The appropriate Minister may update the following data]:

(a)the deadlines for providing the information referred to in Article 8(2);

(b)the demographic thresholds for livestock referred to in the second and third subparagraphs of Article 9(3).

Article 11U.K.

F461.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.[F47The appropriate Minister] shall ensure that any person responsible for the identification and registration of animals has received instruction and guidance on the relevant provisions of the Annex, and that appropriate training courses are available.

Article 12U.K.

1.[F48The appropriate Minister] shall take all the necessary measures to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Regulation. F49...

2.[F50The appropriate Minister] shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to infringements of this Regulation and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The penalties provided for must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.

F513.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F514.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F515.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F516.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F527.The appropriate Minister may make regulations setting out detailed rules for the application of this Article.]

[F53 Article 12a U.K. Regulations

1.Regulations made by the Secretary of State or the Welsh Ministers under this Regulation are to be made by statutory instrument.

2.For regulations made under this Regulation by the Scottish Ministers, see section 27 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010.

3.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.A statutory instrument containing regulations made by the Secretary of State under this Regulation is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

5.A statutory instrument containing regulations made by the Welsh Ministers under this Regulation is subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of the Welsh Parliament.

6.Regulations made by the Scottish Ministers under this Regulation are subject to the negative procedure (see section 28 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010).

7.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8.Regulations made under this Regulation may—

(a)contain consequential, incidental, supplementary, transitional or saving provision, including provision amending, repealing or revoking enactments (which has the meaning given by section 20(1) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018);

(b)make different provision for different purposes.

9.Before making any regulations under this Regulation the appropriate Minister must consult—

(a)such bodies or persons as appear to the appropriate Minister to be representative of the interests likely to be substantially affected by the regulations;

(b)such other bodies or persons as the appropriate Minister may consider appropriate.]

F54Article 13U.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Article 14U.K.

Regulation (EEC) No 1782/2003 is hereby amended as follows:

1.

Article 18(2) shall be replaced by the following:

2.In the event of Articles 67, 68, 69, 70 and 71 being applied, the integrated system shall incorporate a system for the identification and registration of animals set up in accordance, on the one hand, with Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals(1) and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products and, on the other hand, with Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 of 17 December 2003 establishing a system for the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals(2).;

2.

in Article 25(2) the second subparagraph shall be replaced by the following:

These systems, and notably the system for identification and registration of animals set up in accordance with Directive 92/102/EEC, Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 and Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 establishing a system for the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals and amending Regulation (EEC) No 1782/2003, shall be compatible, within the meaning of Article 26 of this Regulation, with the integrated system.;

3.

Article 115(2) shall be replaced by the following:

2.Once Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 establishing a system for the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals and amending Regulation (EEC) No 1782/2003 becomes applicable, to qualify for the premium an animal shall be identified and registered in accordance with these rules.;

4.

the following point 8a shall be added to Section A of Annex III:

8a.Council Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 of 17 December 2003 establishing a system for the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals and amending Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003 and Directives 92/102/EEC and 64/432/EEC (OJ L 5, 9.1.2004, p. 8).Articles 3, 4 and 5

Article 15U.K.

Directive 92/102/EEC shall be amended as follows:

1.

Article 2(a) shall be replaced by the following:

‘(a)

animal shall mean any animal of the species referred to in Directive 64/432/EEC(3) other than bovine animals.

2.

Article 3(2) shall be replaced by the following:

Member States may be authorised under the procedure laid down in Article 18 of Directive 90/425/EEC to exclude from the list in paragraph 1(a) natural persons who keep one single pig which is intended for their own use or consumption, or to take account of particular circumstances, provided that this animal is subjected to the controls laid down in this Directive before any movement.;

3.

Article 4 shall be amended as follows:

(a)

paragraph 1(a) shall be amended as follows:

  • in the first subparagraph, the words ‘bovine or’ shall be deleted,

  • in the second subparagraph, the words ‘of all births, deaths and movements’ shall be replaced by ‘of movements’,

  • the fourth subparagraph shall be deleted;

(b)

paragraph 1(b) shall be deleted;

(c)

the first subparagraph of paragraph 3(b) shall be replaced by the following:

any keeper of animals to be moved to or from a market or collection centre provides a document, containing details of the animals in question, to the operator, on the market or in the collection centre, who is a keeper of the animals on a temporary basis.;

4.

Article 5 shall be amended as follows:

(a)

paragraph 2 shall be deleted;

(b)

paragraph 3 shall be amended as follows:

  • in the first subparagraph, the words ‘other than bovine animals’ shall be deleted,

  • the second subparagraph shall be replaced by the following text:

    Member States may, pending the decision provided for in Article 10 of this Directive and by derogation from the second subparagraph of Article 3(1)(c) of Directive 90/425/EEC, apply their national systems for all movements of animals in their territories. Such systems must enable the holding from which they came and the holding on which they were born to be identified. Member States shall notify the Commission of the systems which they intend to introduce for this purpose, as from 1 July 1993 for pigs. In accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 18 of Directive 90/425/EEC, a Member State may be asked to make amendments to its system where it does not fulfil the aforementioned requirement.,

  • the fourth subparagraph shall be deleted;

(c)

paragraph 4 shall be deleted;

5.

the first and third indents of Article 11(1) shall be deleted.

[X1Article 16U.K.

Article 3(2)(c) of Directive 64/432/EEC shall be replaced by the following text:

‘(c)

be identified in accordance with the provisions of Directive 92/102/EEC, in the case of swine and in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 in the case of bovine animals.]

Article 17U.K.

This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Articles 14, 15 and 16 shall apply with effect from 9 July 2005.

F55...

Back to top

Options/Help

Print Options

Close

Legislation is available in different versions:

Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.

Original (As adopted by EU): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was first adopted in the EU. No changes have been applied to the text.

Close

See additional information alongside the content

Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.

Close

Opening Options

Different options to open legislation in order to view more content on screen at once

Close

More Resources

Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as adopted version that was used for the EU Official Journal
  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • correction slips
  • links to related legislation and further information resources
Close

Timeline of Changes

This timeline shows the different versions taken from EUR-Lex before exit day and during the implementation period as well as any subsequent versions created after the implementation period as a result of changes made by UK legislation.

The dates for the EU versions are taken from the document dates on EUR-Lex and may not always coincide with when the changes came into force for the document.

For any versions created after the implementation period as a result of changes made by UK legislation the date will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. For further information see our guide to revised legislation on Understanding Legislation.

Close

More Resources

Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:

  • the original print PDF of the as adopted version that was used for the print copy
  • correction slips

Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including:

  • lists of changes made by and/or affecting this legislation item
  • confers power and blanket amendment details
  • all formats of all associated documents
  • links to related legislation and further information resources