Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Regulations.)
These Regulations implement for Northern Ireland Commission Directive 2002/4/EC on the registration of establishments keeping laying hens, covered by Council Directive 1999/74/EC.
The Regulations apply to establishments keeping 350 or more laying hens. The Department is required to create and maintain a register of such establishments recording the details listed in the Schedule and to allocate a distinguishing number to each establishment (regulation 3).
The information in the register will be made available to the Food Standards Agency and district councils where this is necessary to trace eggs put on the market for human consumption (regulation 4).
Establishments may not continue in operation after 1st March 2004 unless an application has been made to the Department to note the establishment on the register and new establishments may not be brought into operation after that date unless an application has been made to the Department to register the establishment and a distinguishing number has been communicated by the Department to the applicant. Applications made to the Department shall contain the information in the Schedule (regulation 5).
Regulations 6-8 provide for enforcement.