Committee Reports > List of Committees > Joint > 1981 > Committee on the Secondary Legislation of the European Communities > Report No. 86 - Breeding Animals of the Porcine and Bovine Species

REPORT

Introduction

1. The Joint Committee has considered Commission proposals for (a) a Council Regulation regarding Zootechnical Standards for Breeding Animals of the Porcine Species [Document 4608/80 of 31st January, 1980—COM (79) 785 final] and (b) a Council Directive on the Acceptance for Breeding Purposes of Pure-Bred Breeding Animals of the Bovine Species [Document 11051/79 of 28th November, 1979—COM (79) 649 final].

2. A detailed examination of both proposals was carried out for the Joint Committee by its Sub-Committee on Agricultural and Fishery Matters under the Chairmanship of Deputy Joe Walsh. The Sub-Committee also considered memoranda prepared by the Department of Agriculture and a letter received from the Irish Farmers’ Association concerning item (b) and wishes to thank them for their help. The Joint Committee is indebted to Deputy Walsh and his Sub-Committee for their work.

A. PROPOSED COUNCIL REGULATION RELATING TO ZOOTECHNICAL STANDARDS APPLICABLE TO BREEDING ANIMALS OF THE PORCINE SPECIES

Background

3. The purpose of the proposed Regulation is to progressively liberalise intra-Community trade in all breeding animals of the porcine species and it includes provision for the adoption of any implementing measures necessary of a purely technical nature. Trade in these animals is severely hampered by the different regulations which apply in the various Member States. The main difficulty is that not only do breeds and zootechnical (quality) standards vary, but national breeding and animal husbandry policies have different objectives as well. Certain countries specialise in producing breeds which are not always to be found in other countries. Another problem which has arisen recently is the marked increase in the production of hybrid breeding pigs, i.e. pigs produced by the deliberate cross-breeding of animals of different breeds or lines.

Scope of Proposal

4. In order to deal with this situation and find an appropriate solution aimed at liberalisation, interference will be forbidden in intra-Community trade in pure-bred and hybrid breeding pigs and in their semen and embryos [Article 2]. The Commission’s proposal lays down purely zootechnical measures covering performance, monitoring methods, methods for assessing pigs’ genetic value and requirements for natural service and artificial insemination. The proposal also lays down that criteria must be established for (a) the recognition of pig-breeding associations and undertakings, and (b) herdbooks and entries therein [Article 6].

5. Zootechnical measures of this kind are dealt with by the existing Standing Committee on Zootechnics, on which the Member States are represented. This Committee advises the Commission and refers measures of which it approves back to the Commission for immediate implementation [Article 7]. Pending the adoption of such measures, the existing national measures would gcontinue to apply.

Effect of existing legislation in Ireland

6. The adoption of the proposed Regulation [Article 2] would likely mean that the licensing of boars under the Livestock Breeding Act, 1925, would have to be discontinued and the relevant regulations made under that Act would need to be repealed.

Implications for Ireland of adoption of proposal

7. The Irish pig population is mainly pure-bred—the Large White and the Landrace. The repeal of existing national legislation under Article 2 of the proposed Regulation would mean that hybrid boars, as well as pure-bred boars, would be permitted for breeding purposes without control of breeding quality. Large scale breeding companies which produce commercial hybrid breeding stock would be allowed to import stock and market it for breeding. The Department of Agriculture state that this could adversely affect the market for stock of our existing pedigree breeders.

8. Under the proposed Regulation we would not be permitted to apply quality (Zootechnical) control of breeding stock proposed for import. As a result, stock which might adversely affect some elements of quality in our commercial pig stocks could be imported and the Department is satisfied that in the case of certain of these hybrid imported stocks, their quality is inferior to the quality of the pure-bred Irish stock. Furthermore, hybrids could pass even more freely and with less restrictions than pure-bred stock between Community States. As a result the quality of our bacon could deteriorate with a consequential loss of quality exports. Eighty-five to ninety per cent of our pigs are at present grading A or A special. The high quality of our bacon is mainly due to the quality of our pure-bred stock.

9. In addition, coloured (other than white) pigs which are currently prohibited in this country could be imported. The prohibition on coloured pigs stems from the possible adverse effects which pigmented pigs may have on over-all bacon quality.

Scientific Evidence

10. In regard to the possible deterioration in the quality of Irish pigs, should imports as envisaged in the proposal be allowed, the Department stated that scientific evidence was available to support this. They referred to a survey, an extract from which is attached in an Annex to this report, which showed that the Irish Large White and Landrace were superior to most Continental strains and breeds. The incidence of pale, soft, exudative muscle (PSE) was higher in most Continental strains and breeds. The higher the incidence of PSE the poorer the quality of the meat.

Recommendations of Joint Committee

11. In view of the serious consequences which the Department of Agriculture suggests could follow for Irish pig producers from the liberalisation of the trade in hybrids, the Committee are not in favour of their inclusion in the proposed Regulation. While increased and free intra-Community trade is in general desirable, nevertheless if it resulted in a deterioration in the quality of Irish breeding stocks, the Joint Committee accepts that it would not be for the ultimate good of the Irish pig and bacon industry. If the Regulation is likely to be accepted, the Committee recommends that the Department examine whether it could be amended to ensure that the quality standards which at present exist here relating to pure-bred stock could be maintained for all imported stock.

B. ACCEPTANCE FOR BREEDING PURPOSES OF PURE-BRED ANIMALS OF THE BOVINE SPECIES

Introduction

12. A Directive (77/504/EEC) adopted by the Council in 1977 provides for measures to be taken to liberalise intra-Community trade in pure-bred cattle for breeding. One of the measures contemplated in that Directive is embodied in the present proposal. It provides for

(a) removal of national restrictions on (i) acceptance for breeding of pure-bred females and (ii) from 1st January, 1986, on acceptance for natural mating of pure-bred bulls.

(b) pending the adoption of Community rules, removal of national restrictions on acceptance of bulls or their semen either for testing or artificial insemination, provided that they are acceptable for those purposes in a Member State and subject to their being identified in accordance with a method officially accepted in their home State (herdbook registration, pedigree certificate, attesting documents), and

(c) collection and identification of semen.

Effect of Adoption in Ireland

13. The effects of adopting this proposal as far as Ireland is concerned are that national rules for the licensing of pure-bred bulls would have to be dismantled on or before 1st January, 1986 and the Live Stock Breeding Act, 1925 (No. 3 of 1925), under which the quality of bulls used for breeding is controlled, would have to be repealed. However, Council Directive 77/504/EEC also provides in Article 6 (1) for the establishment of criteria to govern entry into herdbooks and control of the quality of pure-bred breeding bulls will thus be exercised through herdbook registration. There is no Community provision for the control of non pure-bred breeding bulls, the use of which is generally prohibited under the existing Live Stock Breeding Act, 1925. To enable consideration to be given to the question of the control, if any, which might be exercised in respect of non pure-bred bulls and since, under the proposed Directive national rules would not have to be dismantled for some time, the Department of Agriculture has decided to continue the existing licensing system under the Live Stock Breeding Act, 1925 for the present. In view of the transitional period allowable for the dismantling of national rules the proposal is reasonable. The adoption of the remaining Articles would not present any problems as the proposals are in line with existing control systems in this country.

Views of the Irish Farmers’ Association

14. The Irish Farmers’ Association in its submission says it considers that there is no need to license pure-bred breeding bulls registered in a recognised breeding society herdbook but that the use of “scrub” bulls should be prohibited. Because it wants more farmers buying breeding stock on progeny and performance test results in order to improve the quality of cattle, it has made recommendations to the Department for changes in its performance test programme for bulls.

Present Position

15. The position varies greatly from State to State and there are conflicting schools of thought on how the provisions of Article 2 of the draft Directive should be implemented. This is concerned with determining the conditions governing intra-Community trade in bulls or their semen. At the Council of Permanent Representatives meeting of 12th December, 1980 no agreement as to standards of control was found possible. The Committee is advised that because of the continuing impasse and the wide divergence of views among Member States, it has been decided not to proceed further with the proposal for the time being. The Committee sees the situation as satisfactory in the sense that Ireland can continue to exercise its own quality and licensing controls to meet national needs for the foreseeable future.

(Signed) ALEXIS FITZGERALD,

Chairman of the Joint Committee.

11th March, 1981.