Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

2. Rabbits U.K.

During agricultural research, when the aim of the project requires that the animals are kept under similar conditions to those under which commercial farm animals are kept, the keeping of the animals shall at least follow the standards laid down in Directive 98/58/EC(1).

A raised area shall be provided within the enclosure. This raised area must allow the animal to lie and sit and easily move underneath, and shall not cover more than 40 % of the floor space. When for scientific or veterinary reasons a raised area cannot be used, the enclosure shall be 33 % larger for a single rabbit and 60 % larger for two rabbits. Where a raised area is provided for rabbits of less than 10 weeks of age, the size of the raised area shall be at least of 55 cm by 25 cm and the height above the floor shall be such that the animals can make use of it.

Table 2.1. Rabbits over 10 weeks of age U.K.

Table 2.1 is to be used for both cages and pens. The additional floor area is as a minimum 3 000 cm² per rabbit for the third, the fourth, the fifth and the sixth rabbit, while 2 500 cm² as a minimum shall be added for each additional rabbit above a number of six.

Final body weight(kg)	Minimum floor area for one or two socially harmonious animals(cm2)	Minimum height(cm)	Date referred to in Article 33(2)
less than 3	3 500	45	1 January 2017
from 3 to 5	4 200	45
over 5	5 400	60

Table 2.2. Doe plus litter U.K.

Doe weight(kg)	Minimum enclosure size(cm2)	Addition for nest boxes(cm2)	Minimum height(cm)	Date referred to in Article 33(2)
less than 3	3 500	1 000	45	1 January 2017
from 3 to 5	4 200	1 200	45
over 5	5 400	1 400	60

Table 2.3. Rabbits less than 10 weeks of age U.K.

Table 2.3 is to be used for both cages and pens.

Age	Minimum enclosure size(cm2)	Minimum floor area per animal(cm2)	Minimum height(cm)	Date referred to in Article 33(2)
Weaning to 7 weeks	4 000	800	40	1 January 2017
From 7 to 10 weeks	4 000	1 200	40

Table 2.4. Rabbits: Optimal dimensions for raised areas for enclosures having the dimensions indicated in Table 2.1. U.K.

Age in weeks	Final body weight(kg)	Optimum size(cm x cm)	Optimum height from the enclosure floor(cm)	Date referred to in Article 33(2)
over 10	less than 3	55 × 25	25	1 January 2017
	from 3 to 5	55 × 30	25
	over 5	60 × 35	30

(1)

Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming purposes (OJ L 221, 8.8.1998, p. 23).