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

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

“the Act” means the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011;

“cattle” means all animals of the bovine species including bison and buffalo;

“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(1);

(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(2);

“desnooding” means removal of a turkey’s snood;

“disbudding” means removal of the horn bud of cattle, goats or sheep;

“domestic fowl” means a domesticated member of the species Gallus gallus;

“dubbing” means removal of the comb of a domestic fowl;

“farmed” means, in relation to an animal, bred or kept for the production of food, wool or skin or for other farming purposes;

“horses” means any member of the equine species including ponies, asses, donkeys, jennets and mules;

“in velvet” means, in relation to the antlers of a deer, until the velvet is frayed and the greater part of it has been shed;

“laying hen” means a hen of the species Gallus gallus which has reached laying maturity and is kept for the production of eggs not intended for hatching;

“lay person” means, in relation to a procedure listed in Schedules 1 to 11, a person who has received instruction or who is otherwise experienced in the performance of that procedure;

“poultry” means domestic fowl, turkeys, geese, ducks, guinea fowl, quails, pheasants and partridges;

“prohibited procedure” means a procedure which involves interference with the sensitive tissues or bone structure of an animal;

“protected animal” shall have the same meaning as in section 2 of the Act; and

“suitable instrument” means in relation to any procedure, an instrument that is in a fit state of repair and has been designed, or is of a kind commonly used, for the purpose of performing that procedure.

(2) In these Regulations, any reference to a lay person includes a—

(a) veterinary student acting in accordance with paragraph 4 of the Schedule to the Veterinary Surgeons (Practice by Students) Regulations Order of Council 1981(3);

(b) person undergoing instruction in accordance with paragraph 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 3 to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1996(4);

(c) veterinary nurse acting in accordance with paragraph 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 3 to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966;

(d) student veterinary nurse acting in accordance with paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 3 to the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966;

(e) registered medical practitioner or a registered dentist acting in accordance with section 19 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966; and

(f) person entitled to carry out a procedure listed in Schedules 1 to 11 under the Veterinary Surgeons (Exemptions) Order 1962(5).

(1)

O.J. No. L 157, 17.6.2008, p.46, to which there is a correction not relevant to these Regulations

(2)

O.J. No. L 189, 20.7.07, p.1, as amended by Council Regulation (EC No. 967/2008 (O.J. No. L 264, 3.10.2008, p.1)

(3)

S.I. 1981/988 relevant amending instrument is S.I. 1995/2397

(4)

1966 c. 36 relevant amending instruments are S.I. 1988/526, 1991/1412, 2002/1479

(5)

S.I. 1962/2557 relevant amending instruments are S.I. 1982/1627, 2002/1646