COMMISSION DECISION of 21 April 1993 concerning the content of the code to be used on bovine ear marks

(93/317/EEC)THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 92/102/EEC of 27 November 1992 on the identification and registration of animals (1), and in particular Article 5 (2) (a) thereof,

Whereas this code must provide for each bovine animal to be identified individually and for its Member State and holding of origin to be identified; whereas a two-letter code should be used to identify each Member State;

Whereas the holding of origin may be identifed by a number or a series of numbers unique to each holding; whereas each competent authority must choose the numbering system for holdings under its control; whereas the code must be completed by numbers or letters identifying the individual animal;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Veterinary Committee,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. The code on a bovine ear mark shall start with the letters identifying the Member State of origin in accordance with the following table:

/* Tables: see OJ */

2. The code shall be completed by a series of numbres and/or letters which make it possible to identify each animal individually along with the holding on which it was born.

Article 2

This Decision is addressed to the Member States.

Done at Brussels, 21 April 1993.

For the Commission

René STEICHEN

Member of the Commission

(1) OJ No L 355, 5. 12. 1992, p. 32.