The National Ente della Cinofilia Italiana (ENCI)

is based in Milan, recognized with R.D. June 13, 1940 n. 1051 and subject to the supervision of the Ministry for Agricultural Policies, hereinafter referred to as the Ministry, with Legislative Decree of the Provisional Head of the State of 23 December 1947 n. 1665, carries out its activity throughout the national territory and, with a resolution of the Board of Directors, can appoint its own delegates and set up branch offices.

The duration of the organization is unlimited and its institutional purpose is not for profit.

The ENCI is an association of breeders of a technical-economic nature, has the aim of protecting the recognized dog breeds as well, improving and increasing their breeding, as well as regulating and promoting their use and enhancement for zootechnical and sporting purposes.

For the achievement of these purposes, the Entity:

a) regulates and controls the production and breeding rof Purebred dogs with particular regard to the needs of Italian dog breeds;

b) takes care of the keeping of herd books and registry registers in compliance with current legislation, on the basis of specific regulations approved by decree of the Ministry in harmony with community regulations with particular regard to Legislative Decree 30/12/1992 n. 529, implementing the EEC directive n. 91/174, as well as in compliance with the guidelines of the International Cynological Federation (F.C.I.) as compatible;

c) provides for the training, technical qualification and cultural updating of judges and experts to be used for the evaluation of the morphological and functional characteristics of subjects belonging to the dog breeds, establishing and keeping up-to-date the relative Register on the basis of regulations approved by the Ministry with own decree. It also provides for the keeping and updating of the lists of other cinotechnology specialists and takes care of their technical preparation and cultural updating;

d) regulates, approves, recognizes, sponsors and organizes in Italy, even directly, exhibitions, tests, races and any other dog-technical event, including for sporting purposes, in order to verify the zootechnical results and favor the selection of products from national breeding. It may also undertake the initiatives referred to in the preceding paragraph abroad, aimed at promoting knowledge and enhancement of Italian breeding. It can manage facilities for the breeding of working dogs and related zootechnical verification tests. Regardless of the above activities, it can also proceed to organize, directly or indirectly, official herd book events on the basis of a specific specification approved by a decree of the Ministry;

e) promotes studies and researches concerning dog breeds and helps qualified initiatives aimed at the study, control, improvement and diffusion of dog breeds;

f) can participate in Bodies and Associations with similar purposes and can also acquire shareholdings in companies that are instrumental to the pursuit of corporate purposes;

g) carries out any other function that is delegated to it by laws and provisions issued by the competent Authorities;

h) will be able to take care of prints and publications useful for the dissemination of activities relating to the corporate purpose.