European Communities (Pure-Bred Sheep and Goat Flock-Book) Regulations, 1994 (S.I. No. 16 of 1994).

These Regulations, which give legal effect to Council Directive 89/361/EEC, provide for the approval and recognition of organisations which maintain flock-books for pure-bred sheep and goats, set out the criteria to be used for entry into such flock-books and set out the certification which must accompany such animals, their semen, ova or embryos when marketed. Approval of breeders' associations and organisations for the purposes of maintaining flock-books shall be done by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry. An approval shall be valid for five years. The Regulation regulates entry and acceptance for breeding of pure-bred sheep and goats in approved flock-books. A pure-bred breeding sheep or goat which is entered or registered in a flock-book maintained by an approved breeders' association or organisation and the semen, ova and embryos of such animal shall, when marketed, be accompanied by a zootechnical certificate drawn up in accordance with the applicable provisions of Decision 90/258. An approved breeders' association or organisation shall, in respect of a flock-book maintained by it, calculate, or make arrangements to have calculated, the genetic merit of a pure-bred breeding sheep or goat entered or registered in the flock-book in accordance with Decision 90/256.