UNITED KINGDOM STATUTORY INSTRUMENT
1994 No. 2126
ANIMALSPREVENTION OF CRUELTY
The Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994
Made 27th July 1994
Coming into force 10th August 1994
The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968and now vested in them, acting jointly, and the said Minister and the Secretary of State, being Ministers designatedfor the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972in relation to the Common Agricultural Policy of the European Community, acting jointly, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by the said section 2(2) of the said 1972 Act and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, and after consultation (in accordance with section 2 of the said 1968 Act) with such persons appearing to them to represent any interests concerned as they have considered appropriate, hereby make the following Regulations, a draft of which has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament:
S-1
Citation and commencementCitation and commencement
1. These Regulations, which implement—
(a) the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes of 10th March 1976 as read with the Protocol of Amendment to the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes of 6th February 1992;
(b) Council Directive 88/166/EEClaying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens kept in battery cages;
(c) Council Directive 91/629/EEClaying down minimum standards for the protection of calves;
(d) Council Directive 91/630/EEClaying down minimum standards for the protection of pigs;
may be cited as the Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1994 and shall come into force on the fourteenth day after the day on which they are made.
S-2
Interpretation and applicationInterpretation and application
2.—(1) In these Regulations—
“automatic equipment” means automated or mechanical equipment, the failure of which will cause the livestock to suffer unnecessary pain or unnecessary distress unless the failure is rectified or other provision is made for the care of livestock;
“battery cage” means an enclosed space intended for laying hens in a battery system;
“battery system” means an arrangement of cages in rows or tiers or rows and tiers;
“boar” means a male pig after puberty, intended for breeding;
“calf” means a bovine animal aged six months or less;
“gilt” means a female pig intended for breeding, after puberty and before farrowing;
“intensive system” means a husbandry method in which livestock are kept in such numbers or density or in such conditions or at such production levels that their health and welfare depend upon frequent human attention;
“intensive unit” means a unit in which livestock are kept under an intensive system;
“laying hen” means an adult female domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) which is kept for egg production;
“pig” means an animal of the porcine species of any age, kept for breeding or fattening;
“piglet” means a pig from birth to weaning;
“rearing pig” means a pig from ten weeks to slaughter or service;
“sow” means a female pig after the first farrowing;
“stock-keeper” means the owner of the livestock or the person responsible for the livestock;
“weaner” means a pig from weaning to the age of ten weeks.
(2) Nothing in these Regulations shall apply to any act lawfully done under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.
(3) These Regulations shall only apply in relation to livestock for the time being situated on agricultural land.
(4) These Regulations shall not apply in relation to bees or fish, including shellfish, crustaceans and molluscs.
(5) In these Regulations, a person knowingly permits livestock to be kept if—
(a)
(a) the livestock is under his control, and
(b)
(b) he knows or could reasonably be expected to know how the livestock is or may be kept.
Keeping livestock
3.—(1) No person shall keep, or cause or knowingly permit to be kept, a laying hen in a battery cage unless the conditions of Schedule 1 to these Regulations are complied with.
(2) No person shall keep, or cause or knowingly permit to be kept, a calf unless the conditions of Schedule 2 to these Regulations are complied with.
(3) No person shall keep, or cause or knowingly permit to be kept, a pig unless the conditions of Schedule 3 to these Regulations are complied with.
(4) No person shall keep, or cause or knowingly permit to be kept, other livestock unless the conditions of Schedule 4 to these Regulations are complied with.
Welfare Codes
4.—(1) Any person who employs or engages persons to attend to livestock shall ensure that the person attending to the livestock—
(a)
(a) is acquainted with the provisions of all relevant welfare codes relating to the livestock being attended;
(b)
(b) has access to a copy of those codes while he is attending the livestock; and
(c)
(c) has received instruction and guidance on them.
(2) Any person who keeps livestock, or who causes or knowingly permits livestock to be kept, shall not attend the livestock unless he has access to all welfare codes relating to that livestock while he is attending to them, and is acquainted with the provisions of those codes.
(3) In this regulation “welfare code” means a current code issued under section 3 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968.
S-5
Importation from third countriesImportation from third countries
5.—(1) No person shall import a calf or a pig from a country outside the Economic Community unless it is accompanied by a certificate issued by the competent authority of that country, certifying that it has received treatment at least equivalent to that granted to animals of Community origin as provided for in Council Directive 91/629/EECor Council Directive 91/630/EEC.
(2) This regulation shall be enforced under the procedures relating to third country imports contained in the Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations 1993, and any contravention of this regulation shall be an offence under those Regulations.
Powers of entry
6. Any person authorised by the Minister under section 6(1) of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 and exercising powers of entry under that Act for the purposes of these Regulations may take with him a representative of the European Commission acting for the purposes of Council Directive 88/166/EEC, Council Directive 91/629/EECor Council Directive 91/630/EECas well as any person he takes under powers provided under section 6(3) of that Act.
Offences
7. A person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of these Regulations other than regulation 5 shall be guilty of an offence under section 2 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968.
S-8
Revocations and amendmentsRevocations and amendments
8.—(1) The Welfare of Livestock (Intensive Units) Regulations 1978, the Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987, the Welfare of Calves Regulations 1987, the Welfare of Livestock Regulations 1990and the Welfare of Pigs Regulations 1991are hereby revoked.
(2) In paragraph 6 of the first Schedule of the Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1954for the words—
“pig … 2 months”
there shall be substituted the words—
“pig … 4 weeks”.
William Waldegrave
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Hector Monro
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Scottish Office
27th July 1994
Gwilym Jones
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Welsh Office
26th July 1994
SCHEDULE 1
Regulation 3(1)
CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH LAYING HENS IN BATTERY CAGES MUST BE KEPT
1.—(1) All cages must comply with the following requirements—
(a)
(a) the cage area, measured in a horizontal plane, for each laying hen shall be not less than—
(i) 1000 cm2 where one hen is kept in the cage,
(ii) 750 cm2 where two hens are kept in the cage,
(iii) 550 cm2 where three hens are kept in the cage, and
(iv) 450 cm2 where four or more hens are kept in the cage;
(b)
(b) the minimum cage area for each laying hen shall be capable of being used without restriction and may include the area where the non-waste deflection plate (otherwise known as the egg guard) is placed so long as that area is capable of being so used;
(c)
(c) a feed trough of a length of not less than 10 cm multiplied by the number of hens in the cage and capable of being used without restriction shall be provided;
(d)
(d) except where nipple drinkers and drinking cups are provided, the cage shall have a continuous drinking channel which shall be not less than 10 cm multiplied by the number of hens in the cage, and capable of being used without restriction;
(e)
(e) where drinking points are plumbed in, there shall be a minimum of two nipple drinkers or two drinking cups within reach of the cage;
(f)
(f) the height of the cage, for 65% of its area, shall be not less than 40 cm, and, for the remainder of the area, shall be not less than 35 cm (the height being obtained by a vertical line from the floor to the nearest point in the roof and the area being obtained by multiplying 450 cm2 by the number of birds kept in the cage);
(g)
(g) the floor of the cage shall be constructed so as to support adequately each of the forward facing claws of each foot;
(h)
(h) the slope of the floor shall not exceed 14% or 8 degrees, when made of rectangular wire mesh, and 21.3% or 12 degrees for other types of floor.
(2) Until 1st January 1995, paragraph 1(1) above shall not apply in relation to battery cages built and put into use before 1st January 1988 provided the cages have not been reconstructed since that date.
2. Battery cages shall be designed, constructed and maintained in such a way and materials used shall be such as to prevent any injury or unnecessary suffering to laying hens to the extent possible in the existing state of...
