03.10.2024 | Important Announcement

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
KUSA AFFIX (KENNEL NAME) REGISTRATION
MANDATORY SIMULTANEOUS REGISTRATION ON FCI INTERNATIONAL KENNEL NAME REGISTER 

We are pleased to inform KUSA members with registered KUSA Affixes (Kennel Names) of a new and exciting development that will enhance the status of KUSA Affixes internationally and protect KUSA Affixes from possible duplication, exploitation and expropriation in FCI member countries. 

As a condition of its FCI membership, KUSA is obligated to adhere to the FCI Internal Rules pertaining to Breed Standards, Studbooks and Kennel Names. In assessing the methods through which KUSA might ultimately achieve compliance with FCI Internal Rules in respect of Kennel Names, the Federal Council favoured an incremental approach and, in June 2023, directed the KUSA Office to seek the FCI’s agreement to a proposed Protocol in accordance with which KUSA’s compliance with the FCI requirements with regard to KUSA Affixes would be phased in over a period of five (5) years. 

Article 18 of the FCI Internal Rules requires FCI member countries to register the Affixes (Kennel Names) approved and accepted by the individual National Canine Organisations (NCOs) on the FCI International Kennel Name Register. Applications for registration on the FCI International Kennel Name Register may only be submitted to the FCI Head Office by NCOs acting on behalf of breeders who are legally resident in the country of jurisdiction of the particular NCO. 

KUSA’s proposal to the FCI for compliance to be phased in over a five-year period was accepted with an envisaged implementation date of 31 January 2024. Due to other administrative priorities, the latter implementation date unfortunately proved unachievable and, with Fedco’s approval, was postponed. 

We are pleased to advise that, finally, the KUSA Office is in a position to roll out the new policy and implement the agreed Protocol on 1 October 2024. As from that date, all new KUSA Affixes, and all Affixes falling due for renewal, need to be dual registered by KUSA and the FCI. 

In brief, the following process is envisaged by the Protocol: 

• In respect of any NEW application received for the registration of an Affix, the choices listed in order of preference will, in turn, be checked against the FCI International Kennel Name Register and, if an Affix in the listed sequence be found to be *in conflict with a Kennel Name already on the FCI International Register, such Affix will be rejected by the KUSA Office. Should all the Affixes applied for be rejected, the Applicant would be requested to submit a further five (5) options for consideration. 
• In respect of EXISTING KUSA Affixes, registration on the FCI International Kennel Name Register can be applied for at any time during the five-year validity cycle, or in tandem with the cyclical renewal of the Affix after five (5) years. 

o   If applied for separately from the cyclical renewal, the KUSA Affix will be checked against the FCI International Kennel Name Register and, if the Affix is found to be *in conflict with a Kennel Name already on the FCI International Register, the Affix will be registered by the FCI with a ZA extension, e.g. “BARKALOT (ZA)”, for international purposes only. Conversely, if there is no conflict, the Affix will be registered on the FCI International Kennel Name Register in its original form. For the registration of the Affix (whether in original or adapted form) on the FCI International Kennel Name Register, a once-off fee will be payable, and the international protection will endure for as long as the KUSA Affix remains current and valid. 

o   If applied for in tandem with the cyclical renewal, the same procedure under the sub-bullet above would apply, except that the fee will vary to include the KUSA Affix Renewal Fee and the once-off fee payable for FCI international protection. 

*“in conflict with” means the Kennel Name is identical to one already registered on the FCI international Kennel Name Register, or one that is sufficiently similar to another Kennel Name on the Register to possibly cause confusion between the Kennel Names or the Kennel Name Grantees. What constitutes “too similar” is at the sole discretion of the FCI. 

Fees vary depending on whether the Registration on the FCI International Kennel Name Register is done in isolation or in tandem with the cyclical renewal of the KUSA Affix. Please consult KUSA’s Subscription & Fees Document, issued pursuant to Schedule 07 and updated annually, published on the KUSA website (Schedule 07 - Subscription and Fees Price List- Effective 01 October 2024.pdf (kusa.co.za) 

As mentioned elsewhere, it is important to note that registration of a Kennel Name on the FCI International Kennel Name Register, and payment of the fee associated with such registration, are required once only. The international protection of the Kennel Name on the FCI Register will endure for as long as the KUSA-registered Kennel Name, whether renewable every five years or no longer subject to renewal, remains current and valid. 

Further useful information about the utilisation of a registered Affix (Kennel Name) can be found on the KUSA website at Affix/Kennel Name Forms (kusa.co.za). 

Members may elect to apply for the registration of their KUSA Affix on the FCI International Kennel Name Register immediately, click here or at any time prior to their KUSA Affix’s next renewal date, or to wait until renewal of the KUSA Affix becomes due. Reminders for the renewal of Affixes are emailed to the Primary Grantee of KUSA-registered Affixes, one month in advance of the renewal date. 

Should further information be required, please request same by email sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., using “FCI International Kennel Name Registration” in the subject line. 

Turnaround times for the processing of Affix renewals are unknown at this stage, as this will depend on the response time of the FCI Office. Being a fresh initiative for KUSA, as well as the FCI, we beg your indulgence and patience until the process has settled into a predictable routine.