THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to 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(1), and in particular point (a) of Article 10(1) thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Regulation (EC) No 21/2004 provides that each Member State is to establish a system for the identification and registration of ovine and caprine animals in accordance with that Regulation. Accordingly it is appropriate to define the minimum level of checks to be carried out by Member States in order to verify the proper implementation of the requirements for the identification and registration of those animals, as provided for in that Regulation (the checks).
(2) The competent authority of each Member State should carry out checks based on a risk analysis. The risk analysis should take into account all relevant factors, including in particular, animal health considerations.
(3) The percentage of holdings and animals to be checked in the Member States should be laid down. Before 31 December 2009 those rates will be reviewed in the light of the results of the reports on the checks carried out and submitted by the Member States.
(4) As a general rule, all animals on a holding should be covered by the checks. However, for holdings with more than 20 animals the competent authority should be permitted to restrict the checks to an appropriate representative sample of the animals.
(5) Member States should submit an annual report to the Commission providing information on the implementation of the checks. It is appropriate to set out a model report in this Regulation.
(6) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: