CHAPTER V Performance testing and genetic evaluation
Article 25Methods for performance testing and genetic evaluation
Where a breed society or a breeding operation, or a third party designated in accordance with Article 27(1)(b), carries out performance testing or genetic evaluation of breeding animals, that breed society, breeding operation or third party shall ensure that such performance testing or genetic evaluation is carried out in accordance with the rules set out in:
in the case of purebred breeding animals of the bovine, porcine, ovine and caprine species and in the case of hybrid breeding pigs, Annex III;
in the case of purebred breeding animals of the equine species, the breeding programme carried out by that breed society as approved in accordance with Article 8(3), and, where applicable, Article 12.
Article 26Delegated powers and implementing powers concerning the requirements for performance testing and genetic evaluation
1.The Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 61 concerning the amendments to Annex III as regards performance testing and genetic evaluation of purebred breeding animals of the bovine, ovine and caprine species, necessary to take account of:
(a)scientific advances;
(b)technical developments; or
(c)the needs to preserve valuable genetic resources.
2.The Commission may adopt implementing acts, laying down uniform rules for performance testing and genetic evaluation of purebred breeding animals of the bovine, ovine and caprine species referred to in this Article, including the interpretation of the results thereof. In doing so, it shall take into account technical and scientific advances or recommendations of the relevant European Union reference centres provided for in Article 29(1) or, in the absence of such, the principles agreed by ICAR. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 62(2).
Article 27Carrying out of performance testing and genetic evaluation
1.Where performance testing or genetic evaluation is to be carried out according to the breeding programme approved in accordance with Article 8(3), and, where applicable, Article 12, breed societies and breeding operations shall:
(a)carry out that performance testing or genetic evaluation themselves; or
(b)designate the third parties to which that performance testing or genetic evaluation is to be outsourced.
2.A Member State, or, if that Member State so decides, its competent authorities, may require that, in order for the third parties to be designated in accordance with point (b) of paragraph 1, those third parties must have been authorised to carry out performance testing or genetic evaluation of breeding animals by that Member State, or its competent authorities, except where the designated third party in question is a public body subject to control by that Member State, or its competent authorities.
3.A Member State, or, if that Member State so decides, its competent authorities, making use of the provision referred to in paragraph 2 shall ensure that an authorisation is granted to the third parties referred to in that paragraph, if they have:
(a)the facilities and equipment necessary to carry out that performance testing or genetic evaluation;
(b)suitably qualified staff; and
(c)the capability to carry out that performance testing or genetic evaluation in accordance with Article 25.
4.By way of derogation from Article 8(4)(a), a Member State or its competent authority may decide that a third party which is authorised in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article, or the designated public body subject to control by the Member State or its competent authorities referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article, shall be responsible to that competent authority for ensuring compliance with the requirements provided for in this Regulation applicable to that outsourced performance testing or genetic evaluation.
5.Breed societies or breeding operations themselves carrying out performance testing or genetic evaluation or third parties designated by a breed society or breeding operation in accordance with point (b) of paragraph 1 of this Article or authorised by a Member State or its competent authorities as referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article may commit themselves to comply with the rules and standards established by ICAR or may participate in activities carried out by the European Union reference centres referred to in Article 29.
The results of such commitments or the participation in such activities may be taken into account by the competent authorities when recognising those breed societies or breeding operations, approving their breeding programmes, authorising those third parties or carrying out official controls on those operators.
6.Breed societies and breeding operations shall make publicly available the detailed information on those who carry out the performance testing or genetic evaluation.
Article 28Obligations of breed societies, breeding operations and third parties carrying out performance testing or genetic evaluation
1.Where a breed society or a breeding operation carries out performance testing or genetic evaluation of breeding animals or outsources those activities to a third party in accordance with Article 27(1)(b), that breed society or breeding operation shall, at the request of the competent authority referred to in Article 8(3), or, where applicable, in Article 12(5), provide the following information:
(a)records of all data resulting from performance testing and genetic evaluation in relation to breeding animals from holdings located on the territory where that competent authority operates;
(b)details of the recording methods for traits;
(c)details of the model of performance description used for the analysis of the results of performance testing;
(d)details of the statistical methods used for the analysis of the results of performance testing for each evaluated trait;
(e)details of the genetic parameters used for each evaluated trait, including, where applicable, details of the genomic evaluation.
2.The breed society or breeding operation or, on request by that breed society or breeding operation, the third party designated by that breed society or breeding operation in accordance with Article 27(1)(b), shall make the results of the genetic evaluation of breeding animals whose semen is used for artificial insemination in accordance with Article 21(1)(b), (c) and (d) and Article 24(1)(b) publicly available and shall keep them up-to-date.