Animal Health and Welfare Act 1984

5 Extension of scope of 1967 Act

(1) In section 1(1) of the [1967 c. 24.] Slaughter of Poultry Act 1967 (prohibition of slaughter of poultry for purposes of preparation for sale for human consumption, except by one of the methods mentioned), the words " for purposes of preparation for sale for human consumption " are omitted.

(2) After subsection (2) of that section there is inserted—

“(2A) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to the slaughter of any bird—

(a) in pursuance of powers conferred by, or by any instrument made or having effect as if made under, the Animal Health Act 1981 ;

(b) in the course of an experiment in respect of which restrictions are imposed by the [1876 c. 77.] Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, being an experiment performed subject to any restrictions so imposed ; or

(c) by a person registered in the register of veterinary surgeons or the supplementary veterinary register, or a person acting under his direction, where the person so registered is acting in the exercise of his profession.

(2B) The Ministers may, after consultation with such persons or bodies as seem to them representative of the interests concerned, by order approve subject to such conditions as they may think fit any method of slaughter as a method suitable for the slaughter of poultry chicks; and where poultry chicks are slaughtered without the infliction of unnecessary suffering by any method so approved and in accordance with any conditions applicable to the approval—

(a) subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to their slaughter, and

(b) nothing done in the course of their slaughter shall be taken to be done in contravention of any prohibition or restriction imposed by or under any other enactment, being a prohibition or restriction of a kind described in the order.

In this subsection ' poultry chicks' means birds to which this Act applies, not being more than 72 hours old.

(2C) The power conferred by subsection (2B) of this section to make orders shall be exercisable by statutory instrument which shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.”