The Welfare of Animals (Permitted Procedures by Lay Persons) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012

Regulations 2 and 3(a)

SCHEDULE 1CATTLE

PART IPart I of this Schedule specifies permitted procedures which may be performed by a lay person in relation to cattle

Identification procedures

1.—(1) Ear notching;

(2) Ear tagging;

(3) Freeze branding;

(4) Microchipping;

(5) Tattooing;

(6) Other methods of identification involving a prohibited procedure required by law and not restricted to being undertaken by a veterinary surgeon.

Procedures for the control of reproduction

2.—(1) Artificial insemination;

(2) Castration;

(3) Embryo collection or transfer by a non-surgical method;

(4) Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive;

(5) Ovum transplantation, including ovum collection by a non-surgical method.

Other management procedures

3.—(1) Dehorning;

(2) Disbudding;

(3) Nose ringing;

(4) Removal of supernumerary teats.

PART IIPart II specifies any additional conditions for a procedure

Castration

4.  When the method used is the application of a rubber ring or other device to constrict the flow of blood to the scrotum, the procedure shall only be carried out on an animal aged not more than 7 days or by any other means before the age of two months.

Embryo collection or transfer by a non-surgical method

5.  An anaesthetic shall be administered.

Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive

6.—(1) The procedure may not be carried out on a farmed animal.

(2) The procedure shall only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.

Ovum transplantation, including ovum collection by a non-surgical method

7.  An anaesthetic shall be administered.

Dehorning

8.  An anaesthetic shall be administered.

Disbudding

9.—(1) When the method used is chemical cauterisation, the procedure shall only be carried out on an animal aged not more than 7 days.

(2) When any other method is used, such as heated iron, an anaesthetic shall be administered.

Removal of supernumerary teats

10.—(1) The procedure shall only be carried out on an animal that is aged not more than 3 months.

(2) An anaesthetic shall be administered.

Regulations 2 and 3(a)

SCHEDULE 2PIGS

PART IPart I of this Schedule specifies permitted procedures which may be performed by a lay person in relation to pigs

Identification procedures

1.—(1) Ear tagging;

(2) Microchipping;

(3) Tattooing;

(4) Other methods of identification involving a prohibited procedure required by law and not restricted to being undertaken by a veterinary surgeon.

Procedures for the control of reproduction

2.—(1) Artificial insemination;

(2) Castration;

(3) Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive.

Other management procedures

3.—(1) Nose ringing;

(2) Tail docking;

(3) Tooth reduction;

(4) Tusk trimming.

PART IIPart II specifies any additional conditions for a procedure

Castration

4.  Castration of pigs aged not more than 7 days by a method not involving the tearing of tissues.

Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive

5.—(1) The procedure may not be carried out on a farmed animal;

(2) The procedure shall only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.

Nose ringing

6.  The procedure shall only be carried out on an animal that is not kept continuously in an indoor husbandry system.

Tail docking

7.—(1) The procedure shall only be carried out where measures to improve environmental conditions or management systems have first been taken to prevent tail-biting, but there is still evidence to show that injury to pigs’ tails by biting has occurred.

(2) Tail docking of pigs aged not more than 7 days may be carried out without an anaesthetic as long as there is quick and complete severance of the part of the tail to be removed.

Tooth reduction

8.—(1) The procedure shall only be carried out where measures to improve environmental conditions or management systems have first been taken to prevent tail-biting and other vices, but there is still evidence to show that injury to sows’ teats or to other pigs’ ears or tails by biting has occurred.

(2) The procedure shall only be carried out on an animal that is aged not more than 7 days.

(3) The procedure shall consist only of the uniform reduction of the corner teeth by—

(i)grinding; or

(ii)clipping,

so as to leave an intact smooth surface.

Tusk trimming

9.—(1) The procedure shall only be carried out where there is evidence to show that it is necessary to prevent injury to other animals or for safety reasons.

(2) An anaesthetic shall be administered.

Regulations 2 and 3(a)

SCHEDULE 3SHEEP

PART IPart I of this Schedule specifies permitted procedures which may be performed by a lay person in relation to sheep

Identification procedures

1.—(1) Ear notching;

(2) Ear tagging;

(3) Microchipping;

(4) Tattooing;

(5) Other methods of identification involving a prohibited procedure required by law and not restricted to being undertaken by a veterinary surgeon.

Procedures for the control of reproduction

2.—(1) Artificial insemination;

(2) Castration;

(3) Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive;

(4) Implantation of a subcutaneous hormone.

Other management procedures

3.—(1) Disbudding;

(2) Tail docking.

PART IIPart II specifies any additional conditions for a procedure

Castration

4.—(1) When the method used is the application of a rubber ring or other device to constrict the flow of blood to the scrotum, the procedure shall only be carried out on an animal aged not more than 7 days.

(2) When any other method is used it shall only be used up to the age of 3 months.

Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive

5.—(1) The procedure may not be carried out on a farmed animal.

(2) The procedure shall only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.

Implantation of a subcutaneous hormone

6.  This would apply to subcutaneous hormone (or other pharmaceutical product) for modulating seasonal reproductive activity in adult females.

Tail docking

7.—(1) In all cases, enough of the tail shall be retained to cover the vulva of a female animal or the anus of a male animal.

(2) When the method used is the application of a rubber ring or other device to constrict the flow of blood to the tail, the procedure shall only be carried out on an animal aged not more than 7 days, or by any other means such as a hot docking iron, before the age of three months.

Regulations 2 and 3(a)

SCHEDULE 4GOATS

PART IPart I of this Schedule specifies permitted procedures which may be performed by a lay person in relation to goats

Identification procedures

1.—(1) Ear notching;

(2) Ear tagging;

(3) Microchipping;

(4) Tattooing;

(5) Other methods of identification involving a prohibited procedure required by law and not restricted to being undertaken by a veterinary surgeon.

Procedures for the control of reproduction

2.—(1) Castration;

(2) Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive.

Other management procedures

3.—(1) Disbudding.

PART IIPart II specifies any additional conditions for a procedure

Castration

4.  When the method used is the application of a rubber ring or other device to constrict the flow of blood to the scrotum, the procedure shall only be carried out on an animal aged not more than 7 days or by any other means before the age of two months.

Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive

5.—(1) The procedure may not be carried out on a farmed animal;

(2) The procedure shall only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.

Regulations 2 and 3(a)

SCHEDULE 5HORSES

PART IPart I of this Schedule specifies permitted procedures which may be performed by a lay person in relation to horses

Identification procedures

1.—(1) Freeze branding;

(2) Tattooing;

(3) Other methods of identification involving a prohibited procedure required by law and not restricted to being undertaken by a veterinary surgeon.

Procedures for the control of reproduction

2.—(1) Artificial insemination;

(2) Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive.

PART IIPart II specifies any additional conditions for a procedure

3.  There are no associated requirements.

Regulations 2 and 3(a)

SCHEDULE 6DEER

PART IPart I of this Schedule specifies permitted procedures which may be performed by a lay person in relation to deer

Identification procedures

1.—(1) Ear notching;

(2) Ear tagging;

(3) Microchipping;

(4) Tattooing;

(5) Other methods of identification involving a prohibited procedure required by law and not restricted to being undertaken by a veterinary surgeon.

Procedures for the control of reproduction

2.  Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive.

PART IIPart II specifies any additional conditions for a procedure

Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive

3.—(1) The procedure may not be carried out on farmed deer.

(2) The procedure shall only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.

Regulations 2 and 3(a)

SCHEDULE 7BIRDS

PART IPart I of this Schedule specifies permitted procedures which may be performed by a lay person in relation to birds

Identification procedures

1.—(1) Microchipping;

(2) Neck tagging;

(3) Web notching;

(4) Web tagging;

(5) Wing tagging;

(6) Other methods of identification involving a prohibited procedure required by law and not restricted to being undertaken by a veterinary surgeon.

Procedures for the control of reproduction

2.—(1) Castration;

(2) Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive.

Other management procedures

3.—(1) Beak trimming of poultry;

(2) Desnooding;

(3) De-toeing of domestic fowl and turkeys;

(4) Dubbing;

(5) Removal of the dependent portion of its wattles;

(6) Wing pinioning for non farmed poultry.

PART IIPart II specifies any additional conditions for a procedure

4.—(1) With the exception of beak trimming (where paragraph 11 applies), no procedure listed in Part I of this Schedule may be performed on—

(a)conventionally reared meat chickens; or

(b)a laying hen or a chick that is intended to become a laying hen which is kept on an establishment with 350 or more such birds.

Neck tagging

5.  The procedure shall only be carried out on farmed ducks and only where performed within 36 hours of hatching for the purposes of a breed improvement programme.

Web notching

6.  The procedure shall only be carried out on farmed ducks and only where performed within 36 hours of hatching for the purposes of a breed improvement programme.

Web tagging

7.—(1) The procedure shall only be carried out on farmed birds for the purposes of breed improvement programmes or testing for the presence of disease.

(2) The procedure shall only be carried out on birds other than farmed birds for conservation purposes (including education and captive breeding programmes) or for research.

Wing tagging

8.—(1) The procedure shall only be carried out on farmed birds for the purposes of breed improvement programmes or testing for the presence of disease.

(2) The procedure shall only be carried out on birds other than farmed birds for conservation purposes (including education and captive breeding programmes) or for research.

Castration

9.—(1) The procedure may not be carried out on farmed birds.

(2) The procedure shall only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.

(3) An anaesthetic shall be administered.

(4) The procedure must not involve surgery.

Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive

10.—(1) The procedure may not be carried out on farmed birds.

(2) The procedure shall only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.

Beak trimming of poultry

11.—(1) For all poultry the beak trimming procedure shall be performed using a suitable instrument.

(2) For all poultry any subsequent haemorrhage from the beak shall be arrested by cauterisation.

(3) For all poultry the procedure shall be performed on—

(a)both the lower and upper beaks, with not more than one third of each removed; or

(b)the upper beak only, with not more than one third removed.

(4) For laying hens and chicks that are intended to become laying hens, which are kept on establishments with 350 or more such birds, beak trimming—

(a)shall only be performed in order to prevent feather pecking or cannibalism;

(b)shall only be carried out using infra-red technology;

(c)shall not be performed on birds which are aged 10 days or over; and

(d)shall be carried out by a person who has been provided with suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training so that they are qualified to perform the procedure.

(5) Sub-paragraphs (4)(b) and (c) do not apply where the procedure is carried out in an emergency in order to control an outbreak of feather pecking or cannibalism.

(6) For conventionally reared meat chickens the procedure—

(a)shall only be performed in order to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism;

(b)shall not be performed on birds which are aged 10 days or over;

(c)shall be carried out by a person who has been provided with suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training so that they are qualified to perform the procedure; and

(d)shall only be carried out following a consultation and on the advice of a veterinarian.

(7) In this part “infra-red procedure” means an automated procedure involving exposure of the tip of the beak of a chick to a focused high intensity infra-red beam designed to cause a limited area of tissue damage and subsequent loss of the beak tip.

Desnooding

12.—(1) Where the turkey is aged not more than 21 days, the procedure may be carried out either by manual pinching-out or with a suitable instrument.

(2) The procedure may not be carried out on a bird that is aged 21 days or over.

De-toeing of domestic fowl and turkeys

13.  The procedure may not be carried out on a bird that is aged 72 hours or over.

Dubbing

14.—(1) Dubbing shall be performed using a suitable instrument.

(2) The procedure may not be carried out on a bird that is aged 72 hours or over.

Removal of the dependent portion of its wattles

15.—(1) The removal of the dependent portion of its wattles shall be performed using a suitable instrument.

(2) The procedure may not be carried out on a bird that is aged 72 hours or over.

Wing pinioning

16.—(1) The procedure may not be carried out on farmed birds.

(2) An anaesthetic shall be administered where the bird is aged 10 days or over.

Regulations 2 and 3(a)

SCHEDULE 8CATS AND DOGS

PART IPart I of this Schedule specifies permitted procedures which may be performed by a lay person in relation to cats and dogs

Identification procedures

1.—(1) Insertion of subcutaneous tracking devices;

(2) Microchipping;

(3) Tattooing;

(4) Other methods of identification involving a prohibited procedure required by law and not restricted to being undertaken by a veterinary surgeon.

Procedures for the control of reproduction

2.  Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive.

Other management procedures

3.  Removal of the dew claws of dogs.

PART IIPart II specifies any additional conditions for a procedure

Removal of the dew claws of dogs

4.  The procedure shall only be carried out before the pups eyes are open.

Regulations 2 and 3(a)

SCHEDULE 9FISH

PART IPart I of this Schedule specifies permitted procedures which may be performed by a lay person in relation to fish

Identification procedures

1.—(1) Chemical branding;

(2) Freeze branding;

(3) Pit tagging;

(4) Microchipping;

(5) Removal or perforation of parts of fishes’ fins, adipose fins or fin rays;

(6) Externally attached tagging.

Other management procedures

2.  Removal of fish scales.

PART IIPart II specifies any additional conditions for a procedure

Removal of fish scales

3.  The procedure shall only be carried out for the purposes of age determination.

Regulations 2 and 3(a)

SCHEDULE 10REPTILES

PART IPart I of this Schedule specifies permitted procedures which may be performed by a lay person in relation to reptiles

Identification procedures

1.  Microchipping.

Procedures for the control of reproduction

2.  Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive.

PART IIPart II specifies any additional conditions for a procedure

3.  There are no associated requirements.

Regulations 2 and 3(a)

SCHEDULE 11ANY OTHER KIND OF ANIMAL

PART IPart I of this Schedule specifies permitted procedures which may be performed by a lay person in relation to any other kind of animal

Identification procedures

1.—(1) Microchipping;

(2) Tattooing.

PART IIPart II specifies any additional conditions for a procedure

2.  There are no associated requirements.