Protection from suffering, injury and diseaseS
7.—(1) All rabbits for sale must be in good health.
(2) Any rabbit with a condition which materially affects, or is likely to materially affect, its quality of life must not be—
(a)transferred in ownership,
(b)offered for sale, or
(c)moved from the premises specified in the licence and on which the licensable activity is carried on, other than to an isolation facility or veterinary care facility where the animal is in need of isolation or treatment,
until it has recovered, ceased to require isolation or, where there is no need for the rabbit to be isolated, been certified by a veterinary surgeon as being in a condition that is suitable for such transfer, sale or movement.
(3) The licence holder must ensure that no female rabbit—
(a)is mated or artificially inseminated if aged less than 5 months,
(b)gives birth to more than 4 litters of kits within 12 months,
(c)gives birth to more than 16 litters of kits in its lifetime,
(d)is mated or artificially inseminated if aged 6 or more years.
(4) No rabbit may be kept for breeding if it can reasonably be expected, on the basis of its genotype, conformation, behaviour or state of health, that breeding from it could have a detrimental effect on its health or welfare or the health or welfare of its offspring.
(5) Where any other activity involving animals is undertaken on the premises on which the licensable activity of breeding rabbits is carried on, it must be kept entirely separate from the area where that licensable activity is carried on.
(6) No adult rabbit may be isolated or separated from others rabbits for longer than is necessary.
Commencement Information
I1Sch. 8 para. 7 in force at 1.9.2021, see reg. 1