ANNEX IVSupplementary provisions
ANNEX IV EUROPEAN UNION REFERENCE CENTRES REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 29 1. Requirements referred to in Article 29(4)(a) European Union reference centres designated in accordance with Article 29 shall: (a) have suitably qualified staff: (i) who have adequate training: — where those centres are designated in accordance with Article 29(1), in performance testing and genetic evaluation of purebred breeding animals, — where those centres are designated in accordance with Article 29(2), in the preservation of endangered breeds; (ii) who have been instructed to respect the confidential nature of certain subjects, results or communications; and (iii) who have sufficient knowledge of research activities at national, Union and international level; (b) possess or have access to the infrastructure, equipment and products necessary to carry out the tasks: (i) where those centres are designated in accordance with Article 29(1), referred to in point (2); and (ii) where those centres are designated in accordance with Article 29(2), referred to in point (3). 2. Tasks referred to in Article 29(4)(b)(i) for European Union reference centres designated in accordance with Article 29(1) European Union reference centres designated in accordance with Article 29(1) shall: (a) work with breed societies and third parties designated by breed societies in accordance with Article 27(1)(b) to facilitate the uniform application of methods for performance testing and genetic evaluation for purebred breeding animals, referred to in Article 25; (b) inform breed societies, third parties designated by those breed societies in accordance with Article 27(1)(b), or competent authorities on methods of performance testing and genetic evaluation of purebred breeding animals; (c) review regularly the results of performance testing and genetic evaluations carried out by breed societies or third parties designated by those breed societies in accordance with Article 27(1)(b) and the data on which they are based; (d) compare methods of performance testing and genetic evaluation of purebred breeding animals; (e) at the request of the Commission or a Member State: (i) provide assistance in the harmonisation of methods of performance testing and genetic evaluation of purebred breeding animals; (ii) recommend calculation methods to be used for the performance testing and genetic evaluation of purebred breeding animals; (iii) establish a platform for the comparison of the results of the methods of performance testing and genetic evaluation of purebred breeding animals used in Member States, in particular by: — developing control protocols for performance testing and genetic evaluation of purebred breeding animals carried out in Member States to improve the comparability of the results and the effectiveness of breeding programmes, — carrying out an international assessment of livestock on the basis of the combined results of performance testing and genetic evaluation of purebred breeding animals carried out in Member States and third countries, — disseminating the results of those international assessments; — publishing the conversion formulae and the related information based on which the formulae were established; (f) provide data on the genetic evaluation of purebred breeding animals and training to support breed societies or third parties designated by those breed societies in accordance with Article 27(1)(b), which are participating in international comparisons of the results of genetic evaluations; (g) facilitate the resolution of emerging problems in Member States linked to the genetic evaluation of purebred breeding animals; (h) cooperate, within the scope of their tasks, with internationally recognised organisations; (i) provide, at the request of the Commission, technical expertise to the Standing Committee on Zootechnics. 3. Tasks referred to in Article 29(4)(b)(ii) for European Union reference centres designated in accordance with Article 29(2). European Union reference centres designated in accordance with Article 29(2) shall: (a) work with breed societies, third parties designated by breed societies in accordance with Article 27(1)(b), competent authorities and other authorities of the Member States to facilitate the preservation of endangered breeds or the preservation of the genetic diversity existing within those breeds; (b) inform breed societies, third parties designated by those breed societies in accordance with Article 27(1)(b), competent authorities or other authorities on methods used for the preservation of endangered breeds and the preservation of genetic diversity within those breeds; (c) at the request of the Commission: (i) develop or harmonise methods used for the in situ and ex situ conservation of endangered breeds or the preservation of the genetic diversity within those breeds or provide assistance in such development or harmonisation; (ii) develop methods used for the characterisation of the status of endangered breeds with regard to their genetic diversity or their danger of being lost to farming or provide assistance in such development; (iii) encourage exchanges between Member States of information on the preservation of the endangered breeds or the preservation of the genetic diversity within those breeds; (iv) provide training to support breed societies or third parties designated by those breed societies in accordance with Article 27(1)(b), competent authorities and other authorities in the preservation of endangered breeds and the preservation of genetic diversity within those breeds; (v) cooperate, within the scope of their tasks, with European and internationally recognised organisations; (vi) provide, within the scope of their tasks, technical expertise to the Standing Committee on Zootechnics.