THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community,

Having regard to Council Directive 90/427/EEC of 26 June 1990 on the zootechnical and genealogical conditions governing intra-Community trade in equidae 1, and in particular Article 4 (2) (e) thereof,

Whereas Decision 92/353/EEC 2 lays down the criteria for the approval or recognition of organizations and associations which maintain or establish stud-books for registered equidae; whereas that Decision provides that the authorities of the Member State concerned are responsible for approving or recognizing organizations or associations which maintain or establish stud-books;

Whereas in this context, therefore, rules should be laid down to govern the relations between the organization or association which maintains the stud-book of the origin of the breed and an organization or association which maintains or establishes a stud-book or a section of a stud-book for that breed;

Whereas provisions should be made for a procedure enabling the competent authorities concerned to ensure, in special circumstances, coordination between two organizations or associations; whereas it is also important that all the information required for the adoption of the specific coordination rules pursuant to Article 4 (2) (e) of Directive 90/427/EEC be made available to the Commission;

Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Zootechnics,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: