11. 7. 92 Official Journal of the European Communities No L 152/63 COMMISSION COMMISSION DECISION of 11 June 1992 laying down the criteria for the approval or recognition of organizations and associations which maintain or establish stud-books for registered equidae (92/353/EEC) 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 equi- dae ('), and in particular ‘Article 4 (2) (a) thereof, Whereas in all Member States’ stud-books are maintained or established either by organizations or associations or by official departments ; whereas, therefore, it is necessary to lay down the criteria for the approval or recognition of the said organizations and associations ; Whereas, in accordance with Article 4 (1) (a) of Directive 90/427/EEC, the criteria laid down must make it possible to ensure that approved or recognized organizations or associations comply with the principles laid down by the . organization or association which maintains the stud- book of the origin of the breed; " Whereas the application for approval or recognition must be submitted by the organization or association to the competent authorities of the Member State in whose terri- tory its headquarters are situated ; Whereas when an organization or association meets certain criteria and has defined targets, it must be offici- ally approved or recognized by the authorities of the Member State to which it has applied ; Whereas the measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Zootechnics, (") OJ No L 224, 18. 8. 1990, p. 55. HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION : Article 1 In order to be officially approved or recognized, organiza- tions or associations which maintain or establish stud- books must submit an application to the authorities of the Member State in whose territory their headquarters are situated. Article 2 1.  The authorities of the Member State concerned must grant official approval or recognition to any organization or association which maintains or establishes a stuad-book, provided it meets the conditions laid down in the Annex. 2.  However, in a Member State where one or more offi- cially approved or recognized organizations or associations already exist in respect of a given breed, the authorities of - that Member State may refuse to recognize a new organi- zation or association : — if it endangers the preservation of the breed or jeopar- dizes the operation or the improvement or selection programme of an existing organization or association, or — if equidae of that breed may be entered or registered in a specific section of a stud-book maintained by an organization or association which applies in particular for that section the principles laid down in accordance with point 3 (b) of the Annex by the organization or association which maintains the stud-book of the origin of that breed. 3.  Member States shall inform the Commission of any official approval or recognition granted, as well as contested refusals.