Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/464Show full title

CHAPTER II U.K. LIVESTOCK

SECTION 1 U.K. BOVINE ANIMALS, OVINE ANIMALS, CAPRINE ANIMALS AND EQUINE ANIMALS

Article 2 U.K. Minimum period for feeding with maternal milk

The minimum period referred to in point 1.4.1.(g) of Part II of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 for feeding suckling animals preferably with maternal milk shall be:

(a)

90 days after birth for bovine animals and equine animals;

(b)

45 days after birth for ovine animals and caprine animals.

Article 3 U.K. Stocking density and minimum surface for indoor and outdoor areas

For bovine animals, ovine animals, caprine animals and equine animals, the stocking density and the minimum surface for indoor and outdoor areas shall be as set out in Part I of Annex I.

Article 4 U.K. Characteristics of and technical requirements for the minimum surface for the indoor area

At least half of the minimum surface of the indoor area laid down in Part I of Annex I for bovine animals, ovine animals, caprine animals and equine animals shall consist of a solid construction, that is to say, not of a slatted or grid construction.

SECTION 2 U.K. CERVINE ANIMALS

Article 5 U.K. Minimum period for feeding with maternal milk

The minimum period referred to in point 1.4.1.(g) of Part II of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 for feeding suckling cervine animals preferably with maternal milk shall be 90 days after birth.

Article 6 U.K. Stocking density and minimum surface for outdoor areas

For cervine animals, the stocking density and the minimum surface for outdoor areas shall be as set out in Part II of Annex I.

Article 7 U.K. Characteristics of and technical requirements for outdoor enclosures or pens

1. Cervine animals shall be kept in outdoor enclosures or pens providing pastures whenever conditions allow.

2. The outdoor enclosures or pens shall be constructed in such a way that the different species of cervine animals can be separated if needed.

3. Each outdoor enclosure or pen shall be either dividable into two areas or adjacent to another outdoor enclosure or pen so that maintenance measures can be carried out on each area or each outdoor enclosure or pen successively.

Article 8 U.K. Requirements for vegetation and characteristics of protected facilities and open air areas

1. Visual and weather protection facilities shall be provided to cervine animals preferably by natural shelters like inclusion of groups of trees and shrubs, parts of forests or skirts of woods into the outdoor enclosure or pen; if this is not feasible to a sufficient extent the whole year, roofed artificial shelters shall be provided.

2. Outdoor enclosures or pens for cervine animals shall be equipped with facilities or be covered with vegetation that allow animals to rub off velvet from their antlers.

3. In the late stage of pregnancy and two weeks after birth, female cervine animals shall have access to areas covered with vegetation that allows hiding their calves.

4. Fences around outdoor enclosures or pens shall be constructed in such a way that cervine animals cannot escape.

SECTION 3 U.K. PORCINE ANIMALS

Article 9 U.K. Minimum period for feeding with maternal milk

The minimum period referred to in point 1.4.1.(g) of Part II of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 for feeding suckling porcine animals preferably with maternal milk shall be 40 days after birth.

Article 10 U.K. Stocking density and minimum surface for indoor and outdoor areas

For porcine animals, the stocking density and the minimum surface for indoor and outdoor areas shall be as set out in Part III of Annex I.

Article 11 U.K. Characteristics of and technical requirements for the minimum surface for indoor and outdoor areas

At least half of the minimum surface of both the indoor area and the outdoor area laid down in Part III of Annex I shall consist of a solid construction, that is to say, not of a slatted or grid construction.

Article 12 U.K. Requirements for vegetation and characteristics of open air areas

1. Open air areas shall be attractive to porcine animals. Where possible, preference shall be given to fields with trees or forests.

2. Open air areas shall provide outdoor climate as well as access to shelters and means allowing the regulation of body temperature of porcine animals.

SECTION 4 U.K. POULTRY

Article 13 U.K. Definitions

For the purposes of this Section, the following definitions shall apply:

(a)

‘fattening poultry’ means poultry intended for meat production;

(b)

‘flock’ in the context of compartments in poultry houses means a group of birds that are kept together not mixing with other poultry species, and with their own dedicated indoor and outdoor areas;

(c)

‘brother rooster’ means male chicken of laying hen strains intended for meat production;

(d)

‘poularde’ means female Gallus gallus intended for meat production and slaughtered at the minimum age of 120 days.

Article 14 U.K. Stocking density and minimum surface for indoor and outdoor areas

For poultry, the stocking density and the minimum surface for indoor and outdoor areas shall be set out in Part IV of Annex I.

Article 15 U.K. Characteristics of and technical requirements for poultry houses

1. Poultry houses shall be constructed in a manner allowing all birds easy access to open air areas. For this purpose, the following rules shall apply:

(a) the external boundary of the poultry house shall have exit/entry pop-holes giving direct access to open air areas;

(b) every single exit/entry pop-hole shall be of a size adequate for the birds;

(c) birds shall be able to access pop-holes without any obstacle;

(d) pop-holes from the external boundary of the poultry house shall have a combined length of at least 4 m per 100 m² of the usable area of the minimum surface of the indoor area of the poultry house;

(e) where pop-holes are raised, a ramp shall be provided.

2. For poultry houses with verandas, the following rules shall apply:

(a) the external boundary both from the indoor house to the veranda and from the veranda to the open air area shall have exit/entry pop-holes allowing easy access respectively to the veranda or to the open air area;

(b) pop-holes from the indoor house to the veranda shall have a combined length of at least 2 m per 100 m² of the usable area of the minimum surface of the indoor area of the poultry house and pop-holes from the veranda to the open air area shall have a combined length of at least 4 m per 100 m² of the usable area of the minimum indoor surface of the poultry house;

(c) the usable area of the veranda shall not be taken into account for the calculation of the stocking density and the minimum surface of the indoor and outdoor areas as set out in Part IV of Annex I. However, an additional, roofed outdoor part of a building intended for poultry, insulated in a way that it does not have an outdoor climate, may be taken into account for the calculation of the stocking density and the minimum surface of the indoor areas as set out in Part IV of Annex I, if the following conditions are met:

(i)

it is fully accessible 24 hours a day;

(ii)

it complies with the requirements of points 1.6.1 and 1.6.3 of Part II of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/848;

(iii)

it complies with the same requirements for pop-holes as set for verandas in points (a) and (b) of this paragraph;

(d) the usable area of the veranda shall not be included in the total usable area of poultry houses for fattening poultry as referred to in point 1.9.4.4.(m) of Part II of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/848.

3. For poultry houses subdivided into separate compartments in order to house multiple flocks:

(a) compartments shall ensure that contact with other flocks is restricted and that birds from different flocks cannot mix in the poultry house;

(b) the following maximum flock sizes in a single compartment of a poultry house shall apply:

(i)

3 000 parents Gallus gallus;

(ii)

10 000 pullets;

(iii)

4 800 fattening poultry Gallus gallus;

(iv)

2 500 capons;

(v)

4 000 poulardes;

(vi)

2 500 turkeys;

(vii)

2 500 geese;

(viii)

3 200 male Peking ducks or 4 000 female Peking ducks;

(ix)

3 200 male Muscovy ducks or 4 000 female Muscovy ducks;

(x)

3 200 male Mulard ducks or 4 000 female Mulard ducks;

(xi)

5 200 Guinea fowls;

(c) compartments shall be separated by solid partitions for fattening poultry other than Gallus Gallus; such solid partition shall ensure a complete physical separation from the floor to the roof of the building of each compartment of the poultry house;

(d) compartments shall be separated by solid partitions or semi-closed partitions or nets or meshes for parents Gallus gallus, laying hens, pullets, brother roosters and fattening poultry Gallus gallus.

4. Multi-tiered systems may be used in poultry houses. Where multi-tiered systems are used, the following rules shall apply:

(a) multi-tiered systems may only be used for parents Gallus gallus, laying hens, pullets for future egg production, pullets for future parents and brother roosters;

(b) multi-tiered systems shall have no more than three tiers of usable area including the ground floor;

(c) the elevated tiers shall be constructed in such a way as to prevent droppings falling on the birds below and shall be equipped with an efficient system of manure removal;

(d) all tiers shall allow for easy inspection of the birds;

(e) multi-tiered systems shall ensure that all birds can move freely and easily to the different levels or intermediate areas;

(f) multi-tiered systems shall be constructed in such a way as to provide easy equal access to open air areas to all birds.

5. Poultry houses shall be equipped with perches or raised sitting levels or both. Perches or raised sitting levels or both shall be provided to the birds from a young age in dimensions or proportions commensurate with the size of the group and of the birds as laid down in Part IV of Annex I.

6. Mobile poultry houses may be used for poultry provided that they are moved regularly during the production cycle in order to ensure the availability of vegetation to the birds and at least between each batch of poultry. The stocking density for fattening poultry laid down in Sections 4 to 9 of Part IV of Annex I may be increased to a maximum of 30 kg live weight/m² provided the surface of the ground floor of the mobile house does not exceed 150 m².

Article 16 U.K. Requirements for vegetation and characteristics of open air areas

1. Open air areas for poultry shall be attractive to the birds and shall be fully accessible to all birds.

2. For poultry houses subdivided into separate compartments in order to house multiple flocks, the open air areas corresponding to each single compartment shall be separated in order to ensure that contact with other flocks is restricted and that birds from different flocks cannot mix.

3. Open air areas for poultry shall be mainly covered with vegetation composed of a diverse range of plants.

4. Open air areas shall provide to the birds a sufficient number of protective facilities or shelters or shrubs or trees distributed throughout the entire open air areas in order to ensure that the birds are using the whole open air area in a balanced way.

5. The vegetation on the open air area shall be maintained regularly to reduce the potential for nutrient surpluses.

6. The open air areas shall not extend beyond the radius of 150 m from the nearest exit/entry pop-hole of the poultry house. However, an extension of up to 350 m from the nearest pop-hole of the building is permissible provided that a sufficient number of shelters from inclement weather and predators are evenly distributed throughout the whole open air area with at least four shelters per hectare. For geese, the open air area shall allow the birds to satisfy their needs to eat grass.

SECTION 5 U.K. RABBITS

Article 17 U.K. Minimum period for feeding with maternal milk

The minimum period referred to in point 1.4.1.(g) of Part II of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 for feeding suckling rabbits preferably with maternal milk shall be 42 days after birth.

Article 18 U.K. Stocking density and minimum surface for indoor and outdoor areas

For rabbits, the stocking density and the minimum surface for indoor and outdoor areas shall be as set out in Part V of Annex I.

Article 19 U.K. Characteristics of and technical requirements for mobile or fixed housing

1. During the grazing season, rabbits shall be kept in mobile housing on pastures or in fixed housing with access to pasture.

2. Outside the grazing season, rabbits may be kept in fixed housing with access to an outdoor run with vegetation, preferably pasture.

3. Mobile housing on pastures shall be moved as often as possible to ensure the maximum use of grazing pasture and shall be constructed in such a way that it is possible for rabbits to graze the pasture on the floor.

Article 20 U.K. Characteristics of and technical requirements for indoor and outdoor areas

1. The indoor area in fixed and mobile housing shall be constructed in such a way that:

(a) its height is sufficient to allow all rabbits to stand with ears erect;

(b) it can accommodate different groups of rabbits and allow the preservation of the broods’ integrity upon transfer to the fattening phase;

(c) it is possible for bucks and pregnant and reproductive does to be separated from the group for specific animal welfare reasons and for a limited period provided they can keep eye contact with other rabbits;

(d) it is possible for the doe to move away from the nest and return in the nest for nursing the kits;

(e) it provides:

(i)

covered shelter including dark hiding places in sufficient number for all categories of rabbits;

(ii)

access to nests for all does at least one week before the expected date of birth and at least till the end of the nursing period of the kits;

(iii)

access to nests for kits in sufficient number with a minimum of one nest per nursing doe with kits;

(iv)

materials to allow rabbits to gnaw.

2. The outdoor area in facilities with fixed housing shall be constructed in such a way that:

(a) it has raised platforms in sufficient number and evenly distributed on its minimum surface;

(b) it is surrounded by fences that are high and deep enough to prevent flight either by jumping or digging;

(c) if it has a concrete outside area, there is an easy access to the part of the outdoor run with vegetation. Without such easy access, the surface of the concrete area may not be included in the calculation of the minimum surface of the outdoor area;

(d) it provides:

(i)

covered shelter including dark hiding places in sufficient number for all categories of rabbits;

(ii)

materials to allow rabbits to gnaw.

Article 21 U.K. Requirements for vegetation and characteristics and open air areas

1. The vegetation of the outdoor runs shall be maintained regularly and in such a way that it is attractive to rabbits.

2. During the grazing season, pastures shall be rotated regularly and managed in such a way that the grazing of rabbits is optimised.