The Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987

Title, extent, commencement and interpretation

1.—(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Welfare of Battery Hens Regulations 1987, shall apply to Great Britain and shall come into force on 1st January 1988.

(2) In these Regulations—

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

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

“laying hens” means adult female domestic fowls (Gallus gallus) which are kept on agricultural land for egg production.

Requirements as to battery cages

2.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2) below, no person shall keep or knowingly cause or permit to be kept any laying hens in a battery cage unless the following requirements and the further requirements laid down in the Schedule to these Regulations are complied with—

(a) the minimum cage area, measured in a horizontal plane, for each laying hen shall be—

(i) 1000 cm2 where one hen is kept in the cage, (ii) 750 cm2 where two hens are kept in the cage, (iii) 550 cm2 where three hens are kept in the cage, and (iv) 450 cm2 where four or more hens are kept in the cage;

(b) the minimum cage area for each laying hen shall be capable of being used without restriction and may include the area where the non-waste deflection plate (otherwise known as the egg guard) is placed so long as that area is capable of being so used;

(c) a feed trough of a minimum length of 10 cm multiplied by the number of hens in the cage and capable of being used without restriction shall be provided;

(d) except where nipple drinkers and drinking cups are provided, the cage shall have a continuous drinking channel which shall be—

(i) of the same length as the feed trough mentioned in paragraph (c) above, and (ii) capable of being used without restriction;

(e) where drinking points are plumbed in, there shall be a minimum of two nipple drinkers or two drinking cups within reach of the cage;

(f) the height of the cage, measured vertically from its floor to the nearest point in its roof, shall be not less than 40 cm over 65% of the minimum cage area and not less than 35 cm at any point over that area;

(g) the floor of the cage shall be constructed so as to support adequately each of the forward facing claws of each foot;

(h) the slope of the floor shall not exceed 14% or 8 degrees, when made of rectangular wire mesh, and 21.3% or 12 degrees for other types of floor.

(2) Until 1st January 1995, the requirements laid down in sub-paragraphs (a) to (h) above shall not apply to battery cages which were built and put into use before, and are not reconstructed after, the coming into force of these Regulations.

Offences

3.  A person who contravenes or fails to comply with any provisions of these Regulations shall be guilty of an offence under section 2 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968.

Disapplication of intensive units regulations

4.  The Welfare of Livestock (Intensive Units) Regulations 1978(1)shall cease to apply to laying hens kept in battery cages.

In witness whereof the Official Seal of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is hereunto affixed on 22nd November 1987.

L.S.

John MacGregor

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Sanderson of Bowden

Minister of State, Scottish Office

22nd November 1987

Peter Walker

Secretary of State for Wales

23rd November 1987