Eggs and poultry
Legislation in the eggs and poultry sector
Welfare
The Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968
This Act makes it an offence to cause or allow livestock on agricultural land to suffer unnecessary pain or distress. Ministers are empowered, subject to parliamentary approval, to make mandatory regulations on welfare matters and to issue Codes of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock.
Agricultural land is defined as land used for the purpose of an agricultural trade or business. In the case of poultry, both intensive poultry units and ‘backyard’ farms where meat or eggs are sold would be defined as agricultural land, but land where poultry are kept for private consumption would not.
Implementing Authority and Source of Further Information: Common Informants Act, however, the State Veterinary Service bears the major responsibility for enforcement of the 1968 Act and its subordinate legislation.
See Defra Publications for leaflets regarding poultry-based welfare issues.
The Welfare of Livestock (Prohibited Operations) Regulations 1982 SI No 1884
The Regulations prohibit:
- devoicing of cockerels
- castration of a male bird by a method involving surgery
- any operation on a bird with the object or effect of impeding its flight, other than feather clipping.
The prohibitions do not apply to the provision of first aid to save life or relieve pain, or to a veterinary surgeon performing an operation as part of proper treatment for disease or injury. Reference should also be made to The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2000.
Implementing Authority and Source of Further Information: State Veterinary Service.
The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2000
Husbandry
These Regulations state that poultry must be cared for by an sufficient number of able, knowledgeable and competent staff and that they shall be thoroughly inspected at least once per day to ensure that they are in a state of well being. In addition, any person who attends to poultry must be acquainted with the provisions of all statutory welfare codes relating to poultry, have access to a copy of those codes and have received instruction and guidance on those codes.
Automatic / Mechanical equipment
Such equipment shall be inspected at least once per day to check for defects; if a defect is discovered must be rectified immediately or appropriate measures taken to ensure the health and well being of poultry. In the case of ventilation systems there must be a back up system and an alarm system.
Environment
Air circulation, dust levels, temperature, relative air humidity and gas concentrations shall be kept within limits which are not harmful to the poultry.
Poultry shall not be kept in permanent darkness. When natural lighting is insufficient to meet the physiological and ethological needs, appropriate artificial lighting shall be provided. There must be an appropriate rest period from artificial lighting.
Laying hens
These Regulations lay down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens kept in battery cages. It specifies requirements relating to cage construction, area and height, feed and water, house environment, lighting, stock inspection, stockmanship, automatic equipment and cleaning.
Cages
Cages must be suitably equipped and maintained to prevent escape.
The minimum cage area for each hen is:
- 1,000 square centimetres where one hen is kept in a cage, 750 square centimetres where two hens are kept in the cage, 550 square centimetres where three hens are kept in the cage and 450 square centimetres where four or more hens are kept in the cage.
- The minimum cage area for each laying hen shall be capable of being used without restriction and may include the area where the egg guard is placed as long as this area is capable of being used.
- The height of the cage, for 65% of its area, shall be a minimum of 40 cm, and for the remainder of the area, not less than 35 cm. The floor of the cage shall be of a type that can support the claws of the foot adequately. The slope of the floor shall not exceed 8 degrees when the floor is made of rectangular wire mesh and 12 degrees for other types of floor.
- Cages shall be designed, constructed and maintained to prevent injury of suffering of birds housed in them. Cage opening shall be designed so that birds can be put in or taken out without causing injury e.g. though sharp edges, protrusions or broken wires.
- Accommodation comprising more than three tiers of cages shall not be used unless fitted with equipment that allows all tiers to be thoroughly inspected.
Feed and water
- All hens shall have access to adequate, nutritious and hygienic feed each day in sufficient quantity to maintain health and satisfy nutritional requirements. An adequate supply of fresh drinking water shall be available at all times.
- Feed trough space shall not be of not less than 10 cm per hen and capable of being used without restriction. There shall be a minimum of two nipple drinkers or drinker cups within reach of each cage. If there is a continuous drinker channel, there shall be 10 cm channel space per hen.
Implementing Authority and Source of Further Information: State Veterinary Service
The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966
Certain procedures are allowed to be carried out on poultry by people other than qualified veterinary surgeons. These include taking blood for testing for Pullorum Disease, debeaking, removal of the snood, comb and wattles and vaccination with licensed vaccines.
The Protection of Animals Acts 1911-1988
These Acts contain general law relating to cruelty to animals. Broadly it is an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any domestic or captive animal by anything that is done or omitted to be done.
Courts have the power to fine and/or imprison and/or disqualify a person convicted under these Acts from keeping livestock for a specified period.
Implementing Authority and Source of Further Information: This Legislation does not specify the enforcement authority and any person or body can initiate a prosecution. In practice SVS, local authorities and the Police, carry out the primary enforcement role.
The Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Acts, 1954 as amended, 1964, and Amendment Order 1982
These Acts prohibit any operation to an animal without the use of an anaesthetic other than for certain procedures specified which include the making of injections and the rendering of emergency first aid.
The Abandonment of Animals Act 1960
This Act makes it an offence for the owner or any person having charge or control of an animal, to abandon it, whether permanently or not, in circumstances likely to cause unnecessary suffering.
Implementing Authority and Source of Further Information: The Police, on occasions in conjunction with the RSPCA and Local Authorities.
This Act includes provisions on the detention and sale of trespassing livestock, animals straying onto the highway and the protection of livestock against dogs. Where livestock is trespassing and is being detained by the occupier, he or she is responsible for the welfare of the livestock.
Page last modified: 23 March 2006