Welfare of Farmed Animals (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations amend the Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 No. 270 (“the principal Regulations”). The amendments give effect to the provisions of Council Directive 99/74/EC (O.J. No. L203, 3.8.99, p. 53), laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens, in establishments with 350 or more laying hens.

Subject as follows, these Regulations come into operation for all purposes on 29th August 2002. For the purposes of the revocation made by regulation 4, the Regulations come into operation on 1st January 2003. For the purposes of the revocation made by regulation 11, the Regulations come into operation on 1st January 2011 (regulation 1).

The Regulations insert new definitions, including a new definition of laying hen (regulation 3).

The Regulations insert a new regulation 5 and Schedule 3, to apply requirements in relation to the keeping of laying hens other than in the systems referred to in the new Schedules 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D to the principal Regulations (regulations 5 and 9).

The Regulations insert a new regulation 5A and Schedules 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D to the principal Regulations, to apply requirements in relation to the keeping of laying hens in the systems referred to in the new Schedules 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D to the principal Regulations (regulations 6 and 10).

The new Schedule 3A to the principal Regulations specifies requirements for the conditions, including the stocking density, in which laying hens may be kept in non-cage systems. It applies to all newly built or rebuilt non-cage systems and to all non-cage systems on and after 1st January 2007.

The new Schedule 3B to the principal Regulations specifies requirements for the conditions, which apply on and after 1st January 2003, for laying hens kept in conventional (battery) cages. No laying hens may be kept in new cage systems of this type built or brought into service for the first time on and after 1st January 2003, and keeping laying hens in this type of cage system is prohibited on and after 1st January 2012.

The new Schedule 3C to the principal Regulations provides that all cage systems which are not conventional (battery) systems, have to meet additional requirements relating to the conditions in which laying hens are kept (enriched cages).

The new Schedule 3D to the principal Regulations applies to all systems for keeping laying hens. It provides for general requirements regarding inspection, sound levels, lighting, cleansing and construction of cages. This Schedule also prohibits mutilation, but permits beak trimming until 31st December 2010, under certain conditions, including compliance with the Veterinary Surgery (Exemptions) Order 1962 (S.I. 1962/2557) as amended by S.I. 1973/308, S.I. 1982/1627 and S.I. 1983/6.

Article 4(c) of the Veterinary Surgery (Exemptions) Order 1962 which permits persons who are not registered in the Register of Veterinary Surgeons to carry out beak-trimming on poultry, is revoked insofar as it is applicable to laying hens, with effect on and from 1st January 2011 (regulation 11).