Welfare of Broiler Chickens Bill

House of Commons

Session 1999-2000
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Other Bills before Parliament

Welfare of Broiler Chickens Bill

This is the text of the Welfare of Broiler Chickens Bill, as presented to the House of Commons on 15th December 1999.

Welfare of Broiler Chickens Bill

ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES

Clause

1. Protection of broiler chickens.

2. Interpretation and regulations.

3. Short title, commencement and extent.

A
B I L L
TO
Make provision with respect to the health and welfare of broiler chickens kept in indoor husbandry systems.
BE IT ENACTED by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-

Protection of broiler chickens.     1. - (1) It shall be an offence to keep or knowingly cause or permit to be kept any broiler chicken in an indoor husbandry system except where-

(a) the broiler chickens are stocked at a density which does not exceed the density laid down in regulations;

(b) the broiler chicken is given a sufficient quantity of suitable food to prevent hunger;

(c) the broiler chicken has legs of sufficient strength to support its body weight and enable it to walk without difficulty;

(d) the flock is thoroughly inspected not less than twice each day by a stock-keeper and any broiler chicken having difficulty in walking or in reaching food or water, or which is otherwise injured or diseased, is removed and is either immediately treated or, if unlikely to recover without suffering, humanely slaughtered;

(e) the litter is kept clean and dry at all times; and

(f) the broiler chicken is collected for transport to the slaughterhouse in such a manner as to avoid any injury to it.

    (2) A person shall not be guilty of an offence under paragraph (c) above where a broiler chicken has been either treated or humanely slaughtered (if unlikely to recover without suffering) immediately after it has been found to be unable to support its weight or to walk without difficulty (whether following inspection under paragraph (d) or at any other time).

    (3) A person guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or both.

Interpretation and regulations.     2. - (1) In this Act "broiler chicken" means a domestic fowl kept for meat production or breeding.

    (2) The power to make regulations made under this Act shall be exercisable by statutory instrument-

(a) in relation to England, by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, when they shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament;

(b) in relation to Wales, by the National Assembly for Wales.

    (3) No regulations shall be made under this Act unless they have first been the subject of consultation with persons representing appropriate interests.

Short title, commencement and extent.     3. - (1) This Act may be cited as the Welfare of Broiler Chickens Act 2000.

    (2) This Act shall come into force at the end of the period of two years beginning on the day on which it is passed.

    (3) This Act extends to England and Wales only.

© Parliamentary copyright 2000
Prepared 27 January 2000