Approval and Supervision of Breeders’ Associations, Breeding Organizations and Private Undertakings (Registers for Hybrid Breeding Pigs) Regulations, 2003 (L.N. 314 of 2003)

L.N. 314/03 of 2003 VETERINARY SERVICES ACT (ACT NO. XXIII of 2001) Approval and Supervision of Breeders’ Associations, Breeding Organisations and Private Undertakings (Registers for Hybrid Breeding Pigs) Regulations, 2003 IN exercise of the powers conferred by article 34(b) of the Veterinary Services Act, the Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment, has made the following regulations : Title and scope 1. (1) The title of these regulations is the Approval and Supervision of Breeders’ Associations, Breeding Organisations and Private Undertakings (Registers for Hybrid Breeding Pigs) Regulations, 2003. (2) The scope of these regulations is to implement the provisions found under European Union Commission Decision 89/504/EEC laying down the criteria for approval and supervision of breeders' associations, breeding organisations and private undertakings which establish or maintain registers for hybrid breeding pigs, which in turn finds a legal basis under article 10(d) of European Union Council Directive 88/661/EEC. Official approval of breeders’ associations, breeding organisations and private undertakings. 2. (1) In order to be officially approved, breeders' associations, breeding organisations and private undertakings which maintain or establish registers must submit an application to the authorities of the territory of Malta or the Member State on whose territory their headquarters are situated. (2) For the purpose of these regulations “trading partner” within the meaning of article 2 of the Veterinary Services Act shall mean – (a) Member States of the European Community; (b) Third countries to the European Community. Official approval to be granted by authorities 3. The authorities concerned must grant official approval to any breeders' association, breeding organisation or private undertaking which maintains or establishes a register if the latter meets the conditions laid down in the Schedule to these regulations. Withdrawal of official approval 4. The authorities concerned shall withdraw official approval from any breeders' association, breeding organisation or private undertaking which maintains registers if the conditions laid down in the Schedule are no longer being fulfilled in a persistent manner by the breeders' association, breeding organisation or private undertaking concerned. SCHEDULE I. In order to be officially approved, breeders' associations, breeding organisations and private undertakings must – 1. Have legal personality in accordance with the legislation in force in the territory of Malta or the Member State where the application is made; 2. Prove to the competent authorities (a) that they operate efficiently; (b) that they can carry out the checks necessary for recording parentage; (c) that they have a sufficiently large herd to carry out a breed improvement programme; (d) that they can make use of the livestock performance data necessary for carrying out their breed improvement; 3. Have a set of rules covering (a) the system for identifying animals; (b) the system for recording parentage; (c) the definition of their breeding objectives; (d) the systems for making use of livestock performance data enabling the genetic value of the animals to be assessed. II. Furthermore, to be officially approved, the breeders' associations and the breeding organisations must have articles of association laying down in particular the principles of non-discrimination between members.