Recital 19

(19)Union legislation distinguishes between owners and keepers of animals. The term ‘keeper’ of animals is defined and used in Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council ¹⁶ . By contrast, Directive 2009/156/EC refers to the owner or breeder of the animal. A combined definition of owner and keeper is provided for in Directive 92/35/EEC. As under Union and national legislation, the owner of an equine animal is not necessarily the person responsible for the equine animal, it is appropriate to clarify that primarily the keeper of the equine animal, who may or may not be the owner, should be responsible for the identification of equidae in accordance with this Regulation.