1.In respect of purebred breeding animals, breeders' associations, breeding organisations or public bodies may apply to the competent authorities for recognition as a breed society.
In respect of hybrid breeding pigs, breeders' associations, breeding organisations, private undertakings operating in a closed production system or public bodies may apply to the competent authorities for recognition as a breeding operation.
2.The applications referred to in paragraph 1 shall be in writing, either on paper or in electronic form.
3.The competent authorities shall evaluate the applications referred to in paragraph 1. They shall recognise as a breed society any applicant referred to in the first subparagraph of paragraph 1, and as a breeding operation any applicant referred to in the second subparagraph of paragraph 1 that complies with the following requirements:
(a)it has its head office on the territory of the Member State where the competent authority is located;
(b)it demonstrates in its application that it complies with the requirements set out in Part 1 of Annex I for its breeding programmes in respect of which it intends to apply for approval in accordance with Article 8(3), and, where applicable, Article 12;
(c)its application contains, in respect of each of those intended breeding programmes, a draft version of the breeding programme which is to include the information set out in Part 2 of Annex I, and, additionally in the case of purebred breeding animals of the equine species, in Part 3 of Annex I;
(d)when submitting its application referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, it submits an application for approval of at least one of those intended breeding programmes, in accordance with Article 8(2).