The European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) Working Group 19 (CEN/TC 224/WG 19) is working on the development of the CEN Technical Specification (TS) series 17489, titled ‘Secure and Interoperable European Breeder Documents’. CEN is recognised by the European Union as the official body for developing voluntary European standards.

The CEN/TS 17489 series is being developed through a rigorous, consensus-driven process. Rather than prescribing a specific format for breeder documents (including birth certificates), the focus is on strengthening the processes for issuing and reviewing these foundational identity documents. This approach aims to enhance trust and interoperability without restricting innovation or national practices.

In the absence of an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard for breeder documents, the working group is aiming to fill this gap. The standard directly supports the objectives of the ICAO TRIP Guide on Evidence of Identity (EOI). To ensure alignment and maximize impact, the working group is liaising with a subgroup of the ICAO Implementation and Capacity Building Working Group (ICBWG) to review and potentially endorse the outcomes of CEN/TS 17489.

CEN/TC 224/WG 19 welcomes both formal and informal input from stakeholders worldwide. Your expertise and feedback are invaluable to shaping a robust and widely accepted standard.

For more information or to contribute, please contact Stephan Hofstetter (Editor of CEN/TS 17489-5) at [email protected].