(1)Subject to the succeeding provisions of this section, a person shall not in the course of any business of his carry on any of the following activities, that is to say,—
(a)operate a hatchery in any premises; or
(b)on or after such day as may be appointed by order of the Minister of Agriculture, operate an incubator in any premises; or
(c)on or after such day or days as may be so appointed, use any premises for—
(i)the production for sale, supply or distribution of eggs for hatching; or
(ii)the rearing of poultry for sale, supply or distribution before they attain the age of six months;
except under the authority of, and in accordance with the conditions of, a licence issued to him by the Ministry under section 3 with respect to those premises.
(2)Paragraph ( b) of subsection (1) shall not apply with respect to premises in which an incubator is operated solely for the purpose of providing stock for the business of the person who operates the incubator, if no part of that business involves any of the activities mentioned in paragraph ( c) of that subsection.
(3)Subsection (1)( c)(ii) shall not apply with respect to any premises from which poultry is sold, supplied or distributed solely for immediate slaughter.
(4)The Ministry may by permit in writing grant an exemption with respect to any premises from the provisions of subsection (1) to any person who satisfies the Ministry that, so far as the premises are or will be used for—
(a)the rearing for sale, supply or distribution of poultry, or
(b)the production for sale, supply or distribution of eggs for hatching, or
(c)the hatching of eggs,
they are or will be used only in connection with poultry intended solely for the purposes of show or display.