About the system
Member States have in place a complex and comprehensive system with many elements for the identification and registration of those species of kept terrestrial animals for which such a system is required by EU animal health rules in, and pursuant to, Regulation (EU) 2016/429 and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035.
Currently these species are bovine, ovine, caprine, porcine, equine, camelid and cervid animals. In addition, dogs, cats, ferrets and psittacidae must be individually identified when they are moved to another Member State.
The system comprises the means to identify kept terrestrial animals individually or in groups (e.g. eartags, leg rings, electronic identifiers), documents for identifying and tracing those animals, registers to be kept in establishments and central databases, computerised information systems and more, as necessary.
All this is to ensure that the competent animal health authorities can quickly and efficiently apply disease prevention and control measures provided for in Union animal health rules and to facilitate that they can trace those animals and their movements within and between Member States and during their entry into the Union.
To assist traceability, the European Commission provides for several computerised information systems, such as TRACES or BOVEX, as well as for this page towards pertinent national information.
Designated competent authorities of the Member States have certain obligations to draw up models, to issue documents, to inform or check operators, etc., and to run the system, in general.
The competent authorities of the Member States must also inform the Commission and make publicly available certain information: contact points for the computer databases, the authorities or bodies responsible for issuing identification documents, movement documents and other documents, the means of identification that are to be used for each species and category and the prescribed format for the issuing of the identification documents and other documents.
That is in accordance with Article 111 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, Article 60(2) of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035 and Article 4(1), Article 16(3) and Article 28(3) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/963.
