European Commission Press Release

ANCCE EXPLAINS THE PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION REGARDING THE RECOGNITION OF ASSOCIATIONS HANDLING STUD BOOKS

On June 16, the European Commission published a press release urging Spain to modify the current legislation with regards to the recognition of associations handling Stud Books  The analysis of this communiqué is not the responsibility of ANCCE; it is the Ministry of the Environment and Rural and Marine Affaires MARM that must do so  However, certain details must be clarified when faced with the biased interpretation of certain groups, who, once again could cause disinformation among breeders - Certain groups have pointed that this communiqué terminates the monopoly of the Stud Book which, in the case of the Purebred Spanish Horse, is apparently and in fact, held by ANCCE Such statements show absolute ignorance of the reality because, currently, any association may request the handling of at stud book  However, said organization is required to show proof that it represents 25% of the total number of breeders or, 30% of the number of mares, aside from any other many considerations - The European Commission, in its communiqué, gives MARM a period of two months during which it must decide to eliminate these requirements of representation or to present reasons to maintain such requirements, in which case this matter would go before the European Union Tribunal of Justice that would have to publish a binding legal resolution in this respect This process, should it take place, could take several years - In any event, even if the requirements of representation were finally eliminated, it would not hinder MARM from evaluating, based on diverse criteria, case by case, the various applications to handle a stud book, not only of that of the PRE, but of any other farm animal species -       ANCCE, as it could not do otherwise, respects the guidelines of the Ministry, the EU administration, and the Courts Therefore, it will accept the decisions adopted if these are within the scope of the law, without any prior judgment In the same way, ANCCE hopes that other groups show identical respect and calls upon breeders to not be confused by partial information seeking to transmit an image that fails to meet reality -       In 2007, the government of Spain granted ANCCE—being the most representative association within the sector and after complying with a series of requirements—the right to handle the PRE Stud Book In these past three years, LG-ANCCE-PRE Stud Book management has earned international recognition  It is considered a role model for other equine breed groups               

Alexander Zilo