Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

“animal” means any animal (including amphibians) bred or kept for the production of food, wool, skin or fur or for other farming purposes;

“authorised officer ” means an officer of the Department authorised by it to act for the purposes of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 1972;

“battery cage” means an enclosed space intended for laying hens in a battery system;

“battery hen” means a laying hen kept in a battery cage;

“battery system” means an arrangement of cages in rows or tiers or rows and tiers;

“calf” means a bovine animal aged up to six months;

“the Community legislation” means the Community legislation referred to in regulation 14;

“keeper” means any person responsible for, or in charge of, animals whether on a permanent or temporary basis;

“laying hen” means an adult hen of the species Gallus gallus which is kept for egg production;

“pig” means an animal of the porcine species of any age, kept for breeding or fattening;

“statutory welfare code” means a code issued under section 3 of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 1972, regulation 14 or both statutory provisions; and

“zootechnical treatment” has the meaning given by Article 1(2)(c) of Directive 96/22/EEC(1) concerning the prohibition on the use in stockfarming of certain substances having a hormonal or thyrostatic action and of beta-agonists.

(2) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954(2) shall apply to these Regulations as it applies to an Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly.

(3) In these Regulations, expressions which are also used in the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 shall have the same meaning as in that Act.

(4) These Regulations shall apply to animals except—

(a)animals living in the wild;

(b)animals whilst at, and animals solely intended for use in, competitions, shows, cultural or sporting events or activities;

(c)experimental or laboratory animals; or

(d)any invertebrate animals.