(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order appoints 1st March 2020 as the day on which the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Pigs comes into force in England.
Article 3 revokes the previous Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Livestock: Pigs.
Article 4 provides that the new Code of Practice will not apply to proceedings relating to any alleged act causing unnecessary suffering to an animal committed before 1st March 2020. In such cases, the previous Code of Recommendations will continue to apply. This is for the purposes of section 14(4) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (c. 45), which provides that failure to comply with a relevant provision of a code of practice may be relied upon as tending to establish liability, and compliance with a relevant provision of such a code of practice may be relied upon as tending to negative liability.
An impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private or voluntary sector is foreseen.