Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

“calf” means a bovine animal aged up to six months;

“conventionally reared meat chicken” means an animal of the species Gallus gallus that is kept for meat production, other than one—

(a)

that is on a holding with fewer than 500 such animals or with only breeding stocks of such animals;

(b)

that is on a hatchery;

(c)

in relation to which the term “Extensive indoor (barn reared)”, “Free range”, “Traditional free range” or “Free range – total freedom” can be used within the meaning of point (b), (c), (d) or (e) of Annex V to Commission Regulation (EC) No 543/2008 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards the marketing standards for poultry meat(1);

(d)

that is organically reared in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/1991(2);

“farmed animal” means any animal bred or kept for the production of food, wool, skin or for other farming purposes;

“laying hen” means a hen of the species Gallus gallus which has reached laying maturity and is kept for production of eggs not intended for hatching;

“litter”, in relation to laying hens, means any friable material enabling the hens to satisfy their ethological needs and, in relation to conventionally reared meat chickens, material which is dry and friable on the surface;

“nest” means a separate space for egg laying, the floor components of which may not include wire mesh that can come into contact with the birds, for an individual hen or for a group of hens;

“person responsible” for the animal has the same meaning as in section 3 of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011;

“pig” means an animal of the porcine species of any age, kept for breeding or fattening;

“the Act” means the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011;

“usable area” means—

(a)

in relation to laying hens, an area used by laying hens, other than that taken up by a nest, which is at least 30cm wide with a floor slope not exceeding 14% and with headroom of at least 45cm; and

(b)

in relation to conventionally reared meat chickens, a littered area accessible to the chickens at any time.

(2) Expressions which are not defined in these Regulations and which appear in Council Directive 2008/120/EC(3) laying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs, and in relation to conventionally reared meat chickens, Council Directive 2007/43/EC(4) have the same meaning in these Regulations as they have for the purposes of that Community legislation.

(1)

O.J. No. L 157, 17.6.08, p. 46, to which there are amendments and corrections not relevant to these Regulations

(2)

O.J. No. L 189, 20.7.07, p. 1, as amended by Council Regulation (EC) No. 967/2008 (O.J. No. L 264, 3.10.08, p. 1)

(3)

O.J. No. L 47, 18.2.2009, p. 5-13, codified version

(4)

O.J. No. L182, 12.7.07, p. 19