On Thursday 27 October, the European Commission adopted the regulation designating an EU reference centre responsible for making a scientific and technical contribution to the establishment or harmonisation of methods for the preservation of endangered animal breeds.
This centre will also ensure the genetic diversity within these breeds.
The scope of the centre, which will start its work on 1 January 2023, will cover breeding animals of five species: cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and horses. Its main objectives are to facilitate the breeding of endangered breeds and to strengthen cross-border activity: - establishing minimum criteria for the classification of a breed as endangered; - developing or harmonising the methods used for the in situ and ex situ conservation of endangered breeds or the preservation of genetic diversity within these breeds; - facilitating the exchange of information between Member States on the preservation of breeds threatened with extinction or the preservation of genetic diversity within these breeds.
The total cost of the project is €100,000 per year. The centre will be run by a consortium of three partners located in the Netherlands, France and Germany. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)