27.6.2014 Official Journal of the European Union L 189/33 REGULATION (EU) No 653/2014 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 15 May 2014 amending Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 as regards electronic identification of bovine animals and labelling of beef THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 43(2) and Article 168(4)(b) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments, Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1), After consulting the Committee of the Regions, Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (3), Whereas: (1)  In 1997, Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 (%) reinforced Union rules on the identification and traceability of bovine animals in the light of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) epidemic and the resulting increased need to trace the origin and movement of animals using conventional ear tags. (2)  Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council (*) provides that each Member State is to establish a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals in accordance with that Regulation. (3)  Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 establishes a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals comprising ear tags applied to both ears of each animal, computerised databases, animal passports and individual registers kept at each holding. (4)  Tracing of beef back to source via identification and registration is a prerequisite for origin labelling throughout the food chain. Those measures ensure consumer protection and public health and promote consumer confidence. (5)  Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 and, more specifically, bovine identification and voluntary beef labelling systems were listed as information obligations with special importance in terms of the burdens they imply to businesses in the Communication from the Commission of 22 October 2009 entitled ‘Action Programme for Reducing Admin- istrative Burdens in the EU — Sectoral Reduction Plans and 2009 Actions’. () OJ C 229, 31.7.2012, p. 144. (3 Position of the European Parliament of 2 April 2014 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of 6 May 2014. (}) Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 of 21 April 1997 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products (O] L 117, 7.5.1997, p. 1). (*) Regulation (EC) No 1760/2000 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 July 2000 establishing a system for the identification and registration of bovine animals and regarding the labelling of beef and beef products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 820/97 (OJ L 204, 11.8.2000, p. 1).