Regulation 2014/653 - Amendment of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 as regards electronic identification of bovine animals and labelling of beef - Main contents

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 189/33

In 1997, Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 (3) reinforced Union rules on the identification and traceability of bovine animals in the light of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) epidemic and the resulting increased need to trace the origin and movement of animals using conventional ear tags.

Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council (4) provides that each Member State is to establish a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals in accordance with that Regulation.

Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 establishes a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals comprising ear tags applied to both ears of each animal, computerised databases, animal passports and individual registers kept at each holding.

Tracing of beef back to source via identification and registration is a prerequisite for origin labelling throughout the food chain. Those measures ensure consumer protection and public health and promote consumer confidence.

Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 and, more specifically, bovine identification and voluntary beef labelling systems were listed as information obligations with special importance in terms of the burdens they imply to businesses in the Communication from the Commission of 22 October 2009 entitled ‘Action Programme for Reducing Administrative Burdens in the EU — Sectoral Reduction Plans and 2009 Actions’.

The use of electronic identification (‘EID’) systems could potentially streamline traceability processes through automated and more accurate reading and recording into the holding register. Moreover, it would enable automated reporting of animal movements to the computerised database and thus improve the speed, reliability and accuracy of the traceability system. The use of EID systems would also improve the management of certain direct payments to farmers.

EID systems based on radio frequency identification have considerably improved over the last 10 years. That technology allows a faster and more accurate reading of individual animal identity codes directly into data processing systems. This results in a reduction of the time needed to trace potentially infected animals or food, leading to improved reliability of databases and an increase in the capacity to react promptly in the event of disease outbreaks, saving labour costs even if it involves an increase in equipment costs.

This Regulation is coherent with the fact that EID systems have already been introduced in the Union for non-bovine animal species, such as the mandatory system used in ovine and caprine animals.

Given the technological advances in EID systems, several Member States have decided to start to implement bovine EID on a voluntary basis. Those initiatives are likely to lead to the development of different systems in individual Member States and by different stakeholders. The development of differing systems would impede the subsequent harmonisation of technical standards within the Union. The interoperability of the Member State EID systems should be ensured, as should their consistency with the relevant ISO standards or other international technical standards adopted by recognised international standard-setting organisations, with the understanding that those international standards are able to guarantee, at the very least, a higher level of performance than ISO standards.

The Report from the Commission of 25 January 2005 on the possibility of introduction of EID for bovine animals concluded that it had been demonstrated that radio frequency identification had been developed to the extent that it could already be applied in practice. That report also concluded that it was highly desirable to switch to EID of bovine animals within the Union since, among other benefits, it would contribute to the reduction of the administrative burden.

According to the Communication from the Commission of 10 September 2008 entitled ‘Action Plan for the implementation of the EU Animal Health Strategy’ the Commission is to simplify information obligations, such as holding registers and animal passports in the course of the introduction of EID systems.

The Communication from the Commission of 19 September 2007 entitled ‘A new Animal Health Strategy for the European Union (2007-2013) where ‘Prevention is better than cure’ ’ proposes considering EID for bovine animals as a possible improvement to the existing Union system of identification and registration in order to simplify information obligations, such as holding registers and animal passports, and suggests implementing an electronic bovine passport exchange. That exchange would entail the introduction of EID with real time insertion of data. Such an exchange would lead to considerable savings in terms of costs and efforts for the competent authorities of the Member States and other stakeholders and would reduce the workload when transferring animal passports data into computerised databases. This Regulation is consistent with that initiative.

This Regulation is thus expected to contribute to some key objectives of major Union strategies including the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth by improving economic growth, cohesion and competitiveness.

Certain third countries have already established rules allowing advanced EID technologies. The Union should establish similar rules to facilitate trade and increase the competitiveness of the sector.

In the light of the technological development of new types of electronic identifiers, it is appropriate to broaden the scope of the means of identification provided for in Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 in order to enable the use of electronic identifiers as an official means of identification. Since the introduction of the corresponding provisions implies considerable investment, it is necessary to allow for a transitional period of five years to give the Member States the necessary time to prepare. During that transitional period conventional ear tags will continue to be the only official means of identification for bovine animals.

Making EID mandatory throughout the Union could have economically adverse effects on certain operators. It is therefore appropriate that, once EID becomes an official means of identification, its use by keepers should be voluntary. Under such a voluntary regime, EID would be chosen by keepers who are likely to benefit economically from it, while it should be possible for other keepers to continue to identify their animals with two conventional ear tags.

Member States have very different husbandry systems, farming practices and sector organisations. Member States should therefore be allowed to make EID compulsory on their territory only when they deem it appropriate, after considering all of those factors, including impacts on small farmers, and following consultation with organisations representing the cattle industry. During intra-Union animal trade movements the obligation to electronically identify a bovine animal should fall to the Member State which has made the use of EID compulsory on its territory. This should not imply that that Member State is obliged to re-identify animals which have already been electronically identified in the Member State of dispatch.

Animals and meat entering the Union from third countries should be subject to identification and traceability requirements that provide an equivalent level of protection.

When live animals are imported into the Union from third countries, they should be subject, on arrival, to the same identification requirements that apply to animals that are born in the Union.

The two official means of identification allocated to one animal should bear the same identification code. However, during the initial phase of adjustment to the use of electronic identifiers as an official means of identification, it could not be excluded that, in certain cases, technical limitations related to the configuration of an animal’s original identification code could prevent the reproduction of that code on an electronic identifier. This could occur where the characters forming an animal’s existing identification code prevent that code from being converted into an electronic format. Therefore, specific transitory derogations should be provided for in order to allow the application of an electronic identifier also to those animals, provided that full traceability is ensured and that the animals can be identified individually, including the holding on which they were born.

Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 provides that the competent authority is to issue a passport for each animal which has to be identified in accordance with that Regulation. This causes a considerable administrative burden for Member States. The competent authorities of Member States have an obligation to set up a computerised database in accordance with Articles 14 and 18 of Council Directive 64/432/EEC (5). Since those databases have had to be fully operational since 31 December 1999, they should sufficiently ensure traceability of domestic movements of bovine animals. Passports should therefore be issued only for animals intended for intra-Union trade. However, this Regulation should not preclude national provisions concerning the issuing of passports for animals not intended for intra-Union trade.

BOVEX, the pilot project for bovine passport exchange between Member States, was put in place by the Commission in order to facilitate data exchange between Member States, while at the same time ensuring the traceability of the animals during their intra-Union movements. Once the data exchange between national computerised databases is fully operational, the requirement of issuing animal passports in a paper form should no longer apply to animals intended for intra-Union movements. This should contribute to the reduction of the administrative burden of Member States and economic operators.

Section II of Title II of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 lays down rules for a voluntary beef labelling system which provide for the approval of certain labelling specifications by the competent authority of the Member State concerned. The administrative burden borne and the costs incurred by Member States and by economic operators in applying that system are not proportionate to the benefits of the system. Since new legislation has entered into force following the adoption of that Regulation, specific rules on the voluntary labelling system have become superfluous and should therefore be deleted. However, the right of operators to inform consumers through voluntary labelling on the characteristics of the meat and the right of the consumers to receive verifiable information should not be compromised. Consequently, as for any other sort of meat, food information on beef which goes beyond mandatory labelling should respect the current horizontal legislation, including Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (6).

To prevent risks of fraud in meat labelling and to protect European consumers, applicable controls and penalties should have a sufficiently dissuasive effect.

In accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, the Commission submitted a report to the European Parliament and the Council regarding the mandatory indication of the country of origin or place of provenance of the meat used as an ingredient. That report was to be accompanied by a legislative proposal, if appropriate, in order to ensure more transparency throughout the meat chain and to better inform European consumers. Taking into account the latest problems in relation to the labelling of meat products that have affected the functioning of the food chain, the European Parliament and the Council expected the report to be adopted as early as possible during the second semester of 2013 and it was finally adopted on 17 December 2013.

As a consequence of the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the powers conferred under Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 upon the Commission need to be aligned with Articles 290 and 291 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

In order to ensure that the necessary rules for the proper functioning of the identification, registration and traceability of bovine animals and of beef are applied, the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU should be delegated to the Commission in respect of the requirements for alternative means of identification of bovine animals; the special circumstances in which Member States are to be permitted to extend the maximum periods for the application of the means of identification; data to be exchanged between the computerised databases of the Member States; the maximum period for certain reporting obligations; the requirements for the means of identification; the addition of means of identification to the list set out in Annex I; the rules concerning the information from the computerised database to be included in the animal passports and in the individual registers to be kept on each holding; the identification and registration of movements of bovine animals when put out to seasonal grazing including transhumance; rules for labelling certain products which should be equivalent to the rules laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000; the labelling provisions relating to a simplified presentation of the indication of origin for cases of very short stay of an animal in the Member State or third country of birth or of slaughter; and the definitions and requirements applicable to terms or categories of terms that may be put on the labels of pre-packed fresh and frozen beef and veal. It is of particular importance that the Commission carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. The Commission, when preparing and drawing-up such delegated acts, should ensure a simultaneous, timely and appropriate transmission of relevant documents to the European Parliament and to the Council.

In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 with respect to the registration of holdings making use of alternative means of identification; technical characteristics and detailed arrangements for the exchange of data between the computerised databases of Member States; recognition of the full operability of the data exchange systems; the format and design of the means of identification; technical procedures and standards for the implementation of EID; the rules concerning the configuration of the identification code, the maximum size and composition of certain groups of animals, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (7).

The implementation of this Regulation should be monitored. Consequently, no later than five years after the entry into force of this Regulation as regards the provisions concerning voluntary beef labelling, and nine years as regards the provisions concerning EID, the Commission should submit to the European Parliament and to the Council two reports dealing both with the implementation of this Regulation and with the technical and economic feasibility of introducing mandatory EID everywhere in the Union. Those reports should, if necessary, be accompanied by appropriate legislative proposals.

Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 should therefore be amended accordingly,

in Article 1, the second sentence of paragraph 2 is deleted;

in Article 2, the first indent is replaced by the following:

in the first paragraph of Article 3, point (a) is replaced by the following:

Article 4 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 4

Obligation to identify animals

• 1. 

  All animals on a holding shall be identified by at least two means of identification listed in Annex I and in compliance with rules adopted pursuant to paragraph 3 and approved by the competent authority. At least one of the means of identification shall be visible and bear a visible identification code.

The first subparagraph shall not apply to animals that were born before 1 January 1998 and that are not intended for intra-Union trade. Those animals shall be identified by at least one means of identification.

In order to ensure the adaptation to technical progress, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 22b concerning the addition of means of identification to the list set out in Annex I, whilst ensuring their interoperability.

The means of identification shall be allocated to the holding, distributed and applied to the animals in a manner determined by the competent authority.

The two means of identification, authorised in accordance with the delegated and implementing acts adopted pursuant to paragraph 3 and this paragraph and which are applied to one animal, shall bear the same unique identification code, which, together with the registration of the animals, makes it possible to identify the animal individually and the holding on which it was born.

• 2. 

  By way of derogation from paragraph 1, where the characters forming the animal’s identification code do not permit the application of an electronic identifier with the same unique identification code, the Member State concerned may allow that, under the supervision of its competent authority, the second means of identification may bear a different code, provided each of the following conditions are fulfilled:

• 3. 

  To ensure adequate traceability and adaptability to technical progress and optimal functioning of the identification system, the Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 22b concerning the requirements for the means of identification set out in Annex I, and the transitional measures required for the introduction of a particular means of identification.

On the basis of the relevant ISO standards or other international technical standards adopted by recognised international standard-setting organisations, with the understanding that those international standards are able to guarantee, at the very least, a higher level of performance and reliability than ISO standards, the Commission shall lay down, by means of implementing acts, the necessary rules concerning:

Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 23(2).

• 4. 

  As from 18 July 2019, the Member States shall ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place in order to provide for the identification of animals on the basis of an electronic identifier as an official means of identification in accordance with this Regulation.

As from 18 July 2019, Member States may introduce national provisions making the use of an electronic identifier compulsory as one of the two means of identification provided for in paragraph 1.

Member States that make use of the option under the second subparagraph shall provide the Commission with the text of such national provisions and make this information available on the internet. The Commission shall assist the Member States in making this information available to the public by providing, on its website, the links to the relevant websites of the Member States.

• 5. 

  By way of derogation from paragraph 1, bovine animals intended for cultural and sporting events, other than fairs and exhibitions, may be identified by alternative means of identification offering equivalent identification standards to those provided for in paragraph 1.

Holdings making use of alternative means of identification referred to in the first subparagraph shall be registered in the computerised database provided for in Article 5.

The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down the necessary rules concerning such registration. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 23(2).

In order to ensure traceability based on the identification standards equivalent to those provided for in paragraph 1, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 22b concerning the requirements for the alternative means of identification referred to in the first subparagraph, including transitional measures required for their introduction.

The Commission may lay down, by means of implementing acts, the rules concerning the format and design of the alternative means of identification, referred to in the first subparagraph, including transitional measures required for their introduction. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 23(2).

• 6. 

  Member States shall communicate to each other and to the Commission a model of the means of identification used in their territory. They shall make this information available on the internet. The Commission shall assist the Member States in making this information available to the public by providing, on its website, the links to the relevant websites of the Member States.’;

the following Articles are inserted:

‘Article 4a

Time period for the application of the means of identification

• 1. 

  The means of identification provided for in Article 4(1) shall be applied to the animal before the expiry of a maximum period, to be determined by the Member State in which the animal was born. The maximum period shall be calculated from the date of birth of the animal and shall not exceed 20 days.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, for reasons related to the physiological development of the animals, that period may, for the second means of identification, be extended up to 60 days following the birth of the animal.

No animal may leave the holding where it was born before the two means of identification have been applied to that animal.

• 2. 

  To enable the application of the means of identification in special circumstances involving practical difficulties, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 22b to determine the special circumstances under which the Member States may extend the maximum periods for the application of the means of identification as provided for in the first and second subparagraphs of paragraph 1. Member States shall inform the Commission of each use of that option.

Article 4b

Identification of animals from third countries

• 1. 

  Any animal subject to veterinary checks, pursuant to Directive 91/496/EEC, entering the Union from a third country and intended for a holding of destination within the territory of the Union, shall be identified at the holding of destination with the means of identification provided for in Article 4(1).

The original identification applied to the animal in the third country of origin shall be recorded in the computerised database provided for in Article 5 together with the unique identification code of the means of identification allocated to the animal by the Member State of destination.

The first subparagraph shall not apply to animals destined directly for a slaughterhouse situated in a Member State, provided that the animals are slaughtered within 20 days following those veterinary checks pursuant to Directive 91/496/EEC.

• 2. 

  The means of identification of animals referred to in Article 4(1) shall be applied within a maximum period to be determined by the Member State in which the holding of destination is located. That period shall not exceed 20 days following the veterinary checks referred in paragraph 1.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, for reasons related to the physiological development of the animals, that period may, for the second means of identification, be extended up to 60 days following the birth of the animal.

In all cases, the two means of identification referred to in the first subparagraph of Article 4(1) shall be applied to the animals before they leave the holding of destination.

• 3. 

  Where the holding of destination is situated in a Member State that has introduced national provisions under the second subparagraph of Article 4(4) to make the use of an electronic identifier compulsory, the animals shall be identified with that electronic identifier in the holding of destination in the Union, within a period to be determined by the Member State of destination. That period shall not exceed 20 days following the veterinary checks referred in paragraph 1.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, for reasons related to the physiological development of the animals, that period may, for the second means of identification, be extended up to 60 days following the birth of the animal.

In all cases, the electronic identifier shall be applied to the animals before they leave the holding of destination.

Article 4c

Identification of animals moved from one Member State to another

• 1. 

  Animals moved from one Member State to another shall retain the original means of identification applied to them pursuant to Article 4(1).

However, by way of derogation from the first subparagraph, starting from 18 July 2019, the competent authority of the Member State of destination may allow:

• 2. 

  Where the holding of destination is situated in a Member State that has introduced national provisions to make the use of an electronic identifier compulsory, the animals shall be identified with that electronic identifier at the latest in the holding of destination within a maximum period to be determined by the Member State where that holding of destination is located. That maximum period shall not exceed 20 days from the date of arrival of the animals on the holding of destination.

By way of derogation from the first subparagraph, for reasons related to the physiological development of the animals, that period may, for the second means of identification, be extended up to 60 days following the birth of the animal.

In all cases, the electronic identifier shall be applied to the animals before they leave the holding of destination.

However, the first subparagraph shall not apply to animals destined directly for a slaughterhouse situated in the territory of the Member State that has introduced national provisions to make the use of an electronic identifier compulsory.

Article 4d

Removal, modification or replacement of means of identification

No means of identification may be removed, modified or replaced without the permission of the competent authority. Such permission may only be granted where the removal, modification or replacement do not compromise the traceability of the animal and where its individual identification, including the holding on which it was born, is possible.

Any replacement of an identification code shall be recorded in the computerised database provided for in Article 5, together with the unique identification code of the original means of identification of the animal.’;

Article 5 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 5

The competent authority of the Member States shall set up a computerised database in accordance with Articles 14 and 18 of Directive 64/432/EEC.

Member States may exchange electronic data between their computerised databases from the date on which the Commission recognises the full operability of the data exchange system. The exchange shall be done in such a way that data protection is guaranteed and any abuse prevented in order to protect the interests of the keeper.

In order to ensure the electronic exchange of information between Member States, the Commission shall adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 22b to lay down the rules concerning the data to be exchanged between computerised databases of Member States.

The Commission shall by means of implementing acts lay down the technical conditions and modalities for such exchange and recognise the full operability of the data exchange system. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 23(2).’;

Article 6 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 6

• 1. 

  Where a Member State does not exchange electronic data with other Member States, in the framework of the electronic exchange system referred to in Article 5, the following applies:

• 2. 

  In order to allow for the tracing of animal movements back to the holding of origin situated in a Member State, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 22b to lay down rules concerning the information from the computerised database to be included in the animal passport, including transitional measures required for their introduction.’;

the following Article is inserted:

‘Article 6a

This Regulation shall not prevent national provisions by a Member State concerning the issuing of passports for animals not intended for intra-Union trade.’;

Article 7 is amended as follows:

Article 8 is deleted;

the following Article is inserted:

‘Article 9a

Training

Member States shall ensure that any person responsible for the identification and registration of animals has received instructions and guidance on the relevant provisions of this Regulation and of any delegated and implementing acts adopted by the Commission pursuant to this Regulation.

Whenever the relevant provisions are amended, the corresponding information shall be made available to the person referred to in the first subparagraph.

Member States shall ensure that appropriate training courses are available.

The Commission shall facilitate the exchange of best practices to improve the quality of information and training across the Union.’;

Article 10 is deleted;

Article 12 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 12

For the purposes of this Title, the following definitions apply:

Article 13 is amended as follows:

in Article 14, the fourth paragraph is replaced by the following:

‘To ensure conformity with the horizontal rules relating to the labelling in this Section, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 22b to lay down, on the basis of the experience regarding minced meat, rules equivalent to those in the first three paragraphs of this Article for beef trimmings or cut beef.’;

Article 15 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 15

Compulsory labelling of beef from third countries

By way of derogation from Article 13, beef imported into the territory of the Union for which not all the information provided for in Article 13 is available, shall be labelled with the indication:

“Origin: non-EU” and “Slaughtered in (name of the third country)”.’;

from 13 December 2014:

Articles 19, 20 and 21 are deleted;

Article 22 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 22

• 1. 

  Member States shall take all the necessary measures to ensure compliance with the provisions of this Regulation.

The controls provided for shall be without prejudice to any controls which the Commission may carry out pursuant to Article 9 of Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95.

Any penalties imposed by the Member State on a keeper, operator or organisation marketing beef shall be effective, dissuasive and proportionate.

The competent authority shall carry out each year a minimum number of official checks in relation to identification and registration of animals which shall cover at least 3 % of the holdings.

The competent authority shall immediately increase the minimum rate of official checks referred to in the second subparagraph where it is established that provisions on identification and registration of animals have not been complied with.

The selection of holdings to be inspected by the competent authority shall be made on the basis of a risk analysis.

Each Member State shall submit an annual report to the Commission by 31 August on the implementation of the official checks during the previous year.

• 2. 

  Notwithstanding paragraph 1, the competent authority shall impose on a keeper the following administrative penalties:

• 3. 

  Notwithstanding paragraph 1, where operators and organisations marketing beef have labelled beef without complying with their obligations laid down in Title II, Member States shall, as appropriate, and in accordance with the principle of proportionality, require the removal of the beef from the market. In addition to the penalties referred to in paragraph 1, Member States may:

• 4. 

  Experts from the Commission, in conjunction with the competent authorities, shall:

• 5. 

  A Member State in whose territory an on-the-spot check is made shall provide the experts from the Commission with any assistance they may require in the performance of their tasks. The outcome of the checks made shall be discussed with the competent authority of the Member State concerned before a final report is drawn up and circulated. This report shall, where appropriate, contain recommendations for Member States on the improvement of compliance with this Regulation.’;

the following Articles are inserted:

‘Article 22a

Competent authorities

Member States shall designate the competent authority or authorities responsible for ensuring compliance with this Regulation and any acts adopted by the Commission on its basis.

They shall inform the Commission and the other Member States of the identity of those authorities.

Article 22b

Exercise of the delegation

• 1. 

  The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission subject to the conditions under this Article.

• 2. 

  The power to adopt delegated acts referred to in Articles 4(1), 4(3), 4(5), 4a(2), 5, 6(2), 7(1), 7(2), 7(6), 13(6), 14(4) and 15a shall be conferred on the Commission for a period of five years from 17 July 2014. The Commission shall draw up a report in respect of the delegation of power not later than nine months before the end of the five year period. The delegation of power shall be tacitly extended for periods of an identical duration, unless the European Parliament or the Council opposes such extension not later than three months before the end of each period.

• 3. 

  The delegation of power referred to in Articles 4(1), 4(3), 4(5), 4a(2), 5, 6(2), 7(1), 7(2), 7(6), 13(6), 14(4) and 15a may be revoked at any time by the European Parliament or by the Council. A decision to revoke shall put an end to the delegation of the power specified in that decision. It shall take effect the day following the publication of the decision in the Official Journal of the European Union or at a later date specified therein. It shall not affect the validity of any delegated acts already in force.

• 4. 

  As soon as it adopts a delegated act, the Commission shall notify it simultaneously to the European Parliament and to the Council.

• 5. 

  A delegated act adopted pursuant to Articles 4(1), 4(3), 4(5), 4a(2), 5, 6(2), 7(1), 7(2), 7(6), 13(6), 14(4) and 15a shall enter into force only if no objection has been expressed either by the European Parliament or the Council within a period of two months of notification of that act to the European Parliament and the Council or if, before the expiry of that period, the European Parliament and the Council have both informed the Commission that they will not object. That period shall be extended by two months at the initiative of the European Parliament or of the Council.’;

Article 23 is replaced by the following:

‘Article 23

Committee procedure

• 1. 

  The Commission shall be assisted for the implementing acts adopted pursuant to Articles 4(3), 4(5), 5 and 13(6) by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health established by Article 58 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council (9).

That committee shall be a committee within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council (10).

• 2. 

  Where reference is made to this paragraph, Article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 shall apply.

Where the opinion of the Committee is to be obtained by written procedure, that procedure shall be terminated without result when, within the time-limit for delivery of the opinion, the chair of the Committee so decides or a simple majority of committee members so requests.

• (9) 

  Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (OJ L 31, 1.2.2002, p. 1)."

• (10) 

  Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13).’;"

the following Article is inserted:

‘Article 23a

Report and legislative developments

No later than:

the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and the Council the corresponding reports dealing with the implementation and impact of this Regulation including, in the first case, the possibility of reviewing the voluntary labelling provisions, and, in the second case, the technical and economic feasibility of introducing mandatory electronic identification throughout the Union.

Those reports shall, if necessary, be accompanied by appropriate legislative proposals.’;

the following Annex is inserted:

‘ANNEX I

MEANS OF IDENTIFICATION