Official recognition for breed societies and studbooks
Getting official recognition to trade animals and germinal products with other countries on zootechnical terms.
Breed societies and studbooks in the UK need to get official recognition to be able to trade with other countries.
Getting official recognition means breeding animals and germinal products will be traded in the same way as those from all EU countries and some non-EU countries.
This is known as trading on zootechnical terms. It applies to tariffs and breeding programme standards.
A breed society can have official recognition even if they do not trade. They may apply for official recognition to maintain confidence in the integrity of the breed they represent.
Standards for official recognition
To become an officially recognised breed society, you must:
- keep a breeding book for your herd or flock
- create a breeding programme for each breed you maintain
- have legal status, for example, be a limited company or registered charity
- employ qualified staff
- have policies for managing complaints and data governance
- have rules of association that govern membership
- be able to check the recording pedigrees of the breeding animals
- have enough breeding animals in the UK for healthy population growth
- be able to generate and use data collected on breeding animals
How to apply for official recognition
Breed societies must email or write to the relevant authority in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland to request an application form. The relevant authority is where the society headquarters is based.
Authorities will grant official recognition for only one society of each breed at any one time in the UK.
See breed societies that are already officially recognised.
When your breed society is officially recognised you must keep all contact details up to date. If your details change, contact your relevant authority.
If your application is refused
If your application for official recognition is refused, you’ll have up to 60 days to appeal.
Contacting your relevant authority
You can contact your relevant authority In England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland by email or post.
England
Email ukglesecretariat@defra.gov.uk
Write to:
Zootech team
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Seacole Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
Wales
Email OCVO.EU.TransitionAndTrade@gov.wales
Write to:
EU Transition & Trade Policy
Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer
Welsh Government
Cardiff
CF10 3NQ
Scotland
Email Animal.Health@gov.scot
Write to:
Scottish Government: Agriculture, Rural Delivery Directorate
Animal Health and Welfare
P Spur
Saughton House
Broomhouse Drive
Edinburgh
EH11 3XD
Northern Ireland
Email FarmedAnimals.IRM@daera-ni.gov.uk
Write to:
Animal Identification and Welfare Branch
Veterinary Service Animal Health Group
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)
Ballykelly House
111 Ballykelly Road
Ballykelly
Limavady
BT49 9HP
Checks on breed societies
Checks will be carried out to make sure that breed societies continue to meet the standards for official recognition status.
Checks are carried out by:
- Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) if you’re in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland)
- Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) if you’re in Northern Ireland
Breed societies will be asked to provide certain information. If you do not provide it, your society’s breeding programme could be suspended or official recognition removed.
Non-compliance
If your breed society or operation does not comply with the standards, the relevant authority may:
- suspend or withdraw the breeding programme approval
- suspend the society from issuing zootechnical certificates
- order that you do not enter breeding animals into breeding books or registers
- order that breeding animals or their germinal products are not recognised under zootechnical regulations
Getting listed by the European Commission
To trade with EU or listed non-EU countries on zootechnical terms you must be listed by the European Commission as an approved third country body.
To get your breed society listed as a breeding body in the EU, contact your relevant authority.
Your relevant authority will submit your application to the European Commission if you’re eligible.
Importing breeding animals into the UK
If you’re a UK breed society and want to import an animal, you must make sure the breeding organisation is:
- officially recognised in their country and carries out at least one approved breeding programme
- listed by the UK government
Listing in the UK
There are lists that document:
- approved EU breeding bodies (list maintained by the UK)
- approved non-EU breeding bodies (list maintained by the European Commission)
You can only enter animals and germinal products from listed breeding bodies into your society’s breeding book.
Updates to this page
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We have updated the email address for the relevant authority in England.
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First published.