The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007

Regulation 3

SCHEDULE 4 E+W BIRDS: REQUIREMENTS WHEN CARRYING OUT CERTAIN PERMITTED PROCEDURES

When carried out on a bird, a procedure listed below must be carried out in accordance with the condition or conditions specified for that procedure.

A1.

[F1 All procedures in the section on birds in Schedule 1

[F2 None of the procedures listed in the section on birds in Schedule 1, apart from beak trimming (see paragraph 5), may be performed on–

1

conventionally reared meat chickens; or

2

a laying hen, or a chick that is intended to become a laying hen, which is kept on an establishment with 350 or more such birds.]

A2.

Neck tagging

The procedure may only be carried out on farmed ducks and only where performed within 36 hours of hatching for the purposes of a breed improvement programme.

A3.

Web notching

The procedure may only be carried out on farmed ducks and only where performed within 36 hours of hatching for the purposes of a breed improvement programme.

A4.

Web tagging

The procedure may only be carried out on farmed birds for the purposes of breed improvement programmes or testing for the presence of disease.

The procedure may only be carried out on birds other than farmed birds for conservation purposes (including education and captive breeding programmes) or for research.

A5.

Wing tagging

The procedure may only be carried out on farmed birds for the purposes of breed improvement programmes or testing for the presence of disease.

The procedure may only be carried out on birds other than farmed birds for conservation purposes (including education and captive breeding programmes) or for research.]

1.

Castration

The procedure may not be carried out on farmed birds.

The procedure may only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.

An anaesthetic must be administered.

2.

Implantation of a subcutaneous contraceptive

The procedure may not be carried out on farmed birds.

The procedure may only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.

3.

Ovidectomy

The procedure may not be carried out on farmed birds.

The procedure may only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.

An anaesthetic must be administered.

4.

Vasectomy

The procedure may not be carried out on farmed birds.

The procedure may only be carried out as part of a conservation breeding programme.

An anaesthetic must be administered.

5.

[F3 Beak trimming of poultry

(1)

For all poultry, the beak trimming procedure must be performed using a suitable instrument.

(2)

For all poultry, any subsequent haemorrhage from the beak must be arrested by cauterisation.

(3)

For all poultry the procedure must be performed on–

a

both the upper and lower beaks, with not more than one third of each removed, or

b

the upper beak only, with not more than one third removed.

(4)

For laying hens and chicks that are intended to become laying hens, which are kept on establishments with 350 or more such birds, beak trimming–

a

may only be performed in order to prevent feather pecking or cannibalism;

b

may only be carried out using infra-red technology;

c

may not be performed on birds which are aged 10 days or over; and

d

must be carried out by a person who has been provided with suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training so that they are qualified to perform the procedure.

(5)

Sub-paragraphs (4)(b) and (c) do not apply where the procedure is carried out in an emergency in order to control an outbreak of feather pecking or cannibalism.

(6)

For conventionally reared meat chickens the procedure—

a

may only be performed in order to prevent feather pecking and cannibalism;

b

may not be performed on birds which are aged 10 days or over;

c

must be carried out by a person who has been provided with suitable and sufficient information, instruction and training so that they are qualified to perform the procedure; and

d

must only be carried out following a consultation and on the advice of a veterinarian.]

6.

Desnooding

Where the turkey is aged not more than 21 days, the procedure may be carried out either by manual pinching-out or with a suitable instrument.

7.

De-toeing of domestic fowl and turkeys

The procedure may not be carried out on a bird that is aged 3 days or over unless a veterinary surgeon considers that it is necessary that it be carried out.

An anaesthetic must be administered where the bird is aged 3 days or over.

8.

Dubbing

The procedure may not be carried out on a bird that is aged 3 days or over unless a veterinary surgeon considers that it is necessary that it be carried out.

An anaesthetic must be administered where the bird is aged 3 days or over.

9.

Laparoscopy

An anaesthetic must be administered.

10.

Wing pinioning

The procedure may not be carried out on farmed birds.

An anaesthetic must be administered where the bird is aged 10 days or over.

Textual Amendments

F1 Sch. 4 paras. A1-A5 inserted (3.6.2008) by Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (S.I. 2008/1426), regs. 1(b), 7(2)

F2 Sch. 4 para. A1 substituted (23.12.2010) by Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/3034), regs. 1(b), 2(3)(a)

F3 Sch. 4 para. 5 substituted (23.12.2010) by Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 (S.I. 2010/3034), regs. 1(b), 2(3)(b)