The EU Animal Breeding legislation (2016/1012) is the legal basis for the EURC-EAB. EURC-EAB was officially established by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2077 of 27 October 2022.

The EURC-EAB is responsible for the scientific and technical contribution to the establishment and harmonisation of methods for the preservation of endangered breeds, and the preservation of the genetic diversity existing within those breeds.

The EU Breeding legislation 2016/2012 is the legal basis for official recognition of breeding organisations and for approval of their breeding programs.

The purpose of a recognition is for all recognized organizations to operate in the same way, that will make (intra community) trade in purebred animals, and for live products thereof, such as semen, ova and embryos, easier. The aim of a breeding program is to improve or maintain the characteristics of the breeding animals of a breed. This is done by selecting for desirable characteristics. The breeding program states the manner in which the organization intends to achieve the desired breeding goal.

A breed society or a breeding operation can submit applications for approval of its breeding programmes to the competent authority which has recognised that breed society or breeding operation in accordance with Article 4(3). The applications can be done in writing, either on paper or in electronic form. The competent authority then evaluates those breeding programmes and approves them if the breeding programmes have one or more of the following aims: in the case of purebred breeding animals: the improvement of the breed, the preservation of the breed, the creation of a new breed, the reconstruction of a breed; and in the case of hybrid breeding pigs: the improvement of the breed, line or cross, the creation of a new breed, line or cross; the selection and breeding objectives are described in detail; and they comply with the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 set out in Part 2 of Annex I, and in addition in the case of purebred breeding animals of the equine species, in Part 3 of Annex I.

The Animal Breeding Regulation provides a single legal framework for the rules applicable to the breeding, trade and entry into the Union of breeding animals of the bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine and equine species and their germinal products.

Poultry species are not included in the scope of the EU Animal Breeding legislation.

Efforts to achieve competitiveness in the animal breeding sector should not lead to the disappearance of breeds with characteristics that are adapted to specific biophysical contexts. If their population size is too small, local breeds could be at risk of losing genetic diversity. As an important part of the agricultural biodiversity, animal genetic resources provide an essential basis for the sustainable development of the livestock sector and offer opportunities to adapt animals to changing environments, production conditions and market and consumer demands. Union legal acts on the breeding of animals should thus contribute to the preservation of animal genetic resources, to the protection of biodiversity and to the production of typical quality regional products that rely on the specific hereditary characteristics of local breeds of domestic animals. Union legal acts should also promote viable breeding programmes for the improvement of breeds, and particularly in the case of endangered breeds or autochtonous breeds which are not commonly found in the Union, for the preservation of breeds and the preservation of the genetic diversity within and between breeds.

The upgrading of offspring to the main section of breeding books should only be allowed through the female line, except in the case of equine species. However, for an endangered breed of the bovine, porcine, ovine and caprine species and for ‘hardy’ sheep breeds for which there are not enough purebred male reproductive animals, Member States should have the possibility to authorise the breed societies to apply less stringent rules for upgrading the progeny of those animals recorded in supplementary sections to the main section of the breeding book in order to avoid the further deterioration of the genetic diversity of those breeds. Likewise, special rules should be provided for to allow for the reconstruction of breeds which have disappeared or are in serious danger of disappearing. Member States making use of such derogations should carefully evaluate the risk status of those breeding populations and ensure secure management of genetic resources.

Regulation (EU) 2016/1012 defines a breed as a population of animals sufficiently uniform to be considered to be distinct from other animals of the same species by one or more groups of breeders which have agreed to enter those animals in breeding books with details of their known ascendants for the purpose of reproducing their inherited characteristics by way of reproduction, exchange and selection within the framework of a breeding programme.

As defined in 2016/1012 an endangered breed means a local breed, recognised by a Member State to be endangered, genetically adapted to one or more traditional production systems or environments in that Member State and where the endangered status is scientifically established by a body possessing the necessary skills and knowledge in the area of endangered breeds.

The FAO defines an indigenous breed (also known as native or domestic breed) as a breed originating from, adapted to and utilized in a particular geographical region; they form a subset of the locally adapted breeds. A locally adapted breed is defined as a breed, which has been in the country for a sufficient time to be genetically adapted to one or more of traditional production systems or environments in the country. An exotic breed is defined as a breed that is maintained in a different area from where it was developed and includes breeds that are not locally adapted.

According to 2016/1012, when designating the EURC-EAB, the Commission should take duly into account the activities of the European Regional Focal Point for Animal Genetic Resources (ERFP) which has been established in the framework of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources in Europe of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

The European Regional Focal Point for Animal Genetic Resources (ERFP) is the regional platform to support the in situ and ex situ conservation and sustainable use of animal genetic resources (AnGR) and to facilitate the implementation of FAO’s Global Plan of Action for AnGR. Since 2001, ERFP facilitates the collaboration, coordination of work and exchange of information and experience between different European countries and governmental and non-governmental organisations. ERFP operates under Terms of Reference with an operational structure agreed by the National Coordinators for AnGR in Europe.

Taking into account the specific mandate of the EURC-EAB within the legal framework of EU 2012/1016, and the different structure and mandate of ERFP, EURC-EAB and ERFP will work closely together.

Ex situ conservation is complementary strategy to in situ conservation and should be an integral component of a breeding program. Breed societies can work together with (national) genebank. EUGENA is the European network of genebanks for the long term conservation and sustainable use of animal genetic resources, governed by the ERFP.

The European Genebank Network for Animal Genetic Resources (EUGENA) offers help on matters of genebank management. More information can be found here: https://eugena-erfp.net/en/.