The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010

Amendments to the Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007

2.—(1) The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007(1) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation), after the definition of “cattle”, insert—

““conventionally reared meat chicken” means an animal of the species Gallus gallus that is kept for meat production, other than one—

(a)that is on a holding with fewer than 500 such animals or with only breeding stocks of such animals;

(b)in relation to which the term “Extensive indoor (barn reared)”, “Free range”, “Traditional free range” or “Free range – total freedom” can be used within the meaning of point (b), (c), (d) or (e) of Annex V to Commission Regulation (EC) No 543/2008 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards the marketing standards for poultrymeat(2);

(c)that is organically reared in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91(3);”.

(3) In Schedule 4 (Birds: Requirements When Carrying Out Certain Permitted Procedures)—

(a)for paragraph A1 (all procedures in the section on birds in Schedule 1), substitute—

A1.    All procedures in the section on birds in Schedule 1

None of the procedures listed in the section on birds in Schedule 1, apart from beak trimming (see paragraph 5), may be performed on–

(1) conventionally reared meat chickens; or

(2) 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.”

(b)for Paragraph 5 (beak trimming of poultry), substitute—

5.    Beak trimming of poultry

(1) For all poultry, the beak trimming procedure must be performed using a suitable instrument.

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

(3) For all poultry the procedure must be performed on–

(a)both the upper and lower 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)may only be performed in order to prevent feather pecking or cannibalism;

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

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

(d)must 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)may only be performed in order to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism;

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

(c)must 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)must only be carried out following a consultation and on the advice of a veterinarian.”.