The Registration of Establishments Keeping Laying Hens (Scotland) Regulations 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations implement for Scotland Commission Directive 2002/4/EC on the registration of establishments keeping laying hens, covered by Council Directive 1999/74/EC.

The Regulations apply to establishments keeping 350 or more laying hens, other than those rearing breeding laying hens (regulation 3). The Scottish Ministers are required to set-up and maintain a register of such establishments recording the details listed in the Schedule and to allocate a distinguishing number to each establishment (regulation 4). Keepers and owners of establishments shall apply for registration and must supply to the Scottish Ministers with the appropriate information (regulation 5(1)). Changes to that information must be notified to the Scottish Ministers (regulation 5(2)).

The information in the register will be made available to the Food Standards Agency and local authorities where this is necessary to trace eggs put on the market for human consumption (regulation 6). Local authorities will also have access to the register for the purpose of enforcement of the Regulations.

Scottish Ministers will remove from the register any establishment which no longer keeps laying hens (regulation 7).

Establishments may not continue in operation after these Regulations come into force if an application for registration has not been made by that date, and new establishments may not be brought into operation after that date until a distinguishing number has been communicated (regulation 8).

Regulation 9 affords any person affected by a decision of the Scottish Ministers under these Regulations with an opportunity to apply for a review of the decision.

Regulations 10 to 13 create offences and provide for enforcement.

No Regulatory Impact Assessment has been prepared in respect of these Regulations.