Title, commencement and application

1.-(1) The title of these Regulations is The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2010.

(2) They come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.

(3) They apply in relation to Wales.

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

2.-(1) The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (Wales) Regulations 2007(3) are amended as follows.

(2) In regulation 2 (interpretation), after the definition of "cattle", insert-

• ""conventionally reared meat chicken" ("iâr fwyta a fegir yn gonfensiynol") 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 poultrymea(4));

  (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(5);".

(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-

"All procedures in the section on birds in Schedule 1

A1. 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 with and on the advice of a veterinarian.".

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (Wales) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/1029) (W.96) ("the 2007 Regulations"). The 2007 Regulations specify the permitted procedures to which the offences in section 5(1) and (2) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (c. 45) do not apply if such procedures are carried out in accordance with the relevant requirements. These Regulations make provision for beak trimming procedures which may be carried out in the case of conventionally reared meat chickens and laying hens (including chicks that are intended to become laying hens).

Regulation 2(2) inserts a definition of "conventionally reared meat chicken". Paragraph A1 (All procedures in the section on birds in Schedule 1) of Schedule 4 (Birds: Requirements When Carrying Out Certain Permitted Procedures) is amended to limit the procedures which may be carried out on conventionally reared meat chickens (regulation 2(3)(a)). The changes implement paragraph 12 of Annex I to the Council Directive 2007/43/EC laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production (OJ No L 182, 12.7.2007, p.19).

Regulation 2(3)(b) substitutes a new paragraph 5 in Schedule 4 to the 2007 Regulations. Sub-paragraphs (4) and (5) of the replacement paragraph 5 introduce changes to the procedure for beak trimming of laying hens and chicks that are intended to become laying hens on establishments with 350 or more laying hens. The changes implement the derogation in paragraph 8 of the Annex to Council Directive 1999/74/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens (OJ No L 203, 3.8.1999, p.53).

The effect of sub-paragraph (4) of the relevant paragraph 5 is that a trained person may only use infra-red technology to remove up to one-third of lower and/or upper beaks of birds under 10 days of age in order to prevent feather pecking or cannibalism. Sub-paragraph (5) disapplies the requirement to use infra-red technology and only to perform the procedure on birds under the age of 10 days where beak trimming is carried out in an emergency to control an outbreak of feather pecking or cannibalism. But in such a case the requirements in sub-paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) will still apply.

The effect of sub-paragraph (6) of the relevant paragraph 5 is that the beak trimming of conventionally reared meat chickens is allowed where the birds are aged under 10 days in order to prevent feather pecking or cannibalism. Such a procedure must be carried out by a suitably trained person following consultation and advice from a veterinarian.

A regulatory impact assessment has been prepared. Copies can be obtained from the Animal Welfare Team, Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer, Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ.