Rearing of Broilers Regulations, 2005

L.N. 119 of 2005

ANIMAL WELFARE ACT

(CAP. 439)

Rearing of Broilers Regulations, 2005

IN exercise of the powers conferred by article 7(2) of the Animal

Welfare Act, 2001, the Minister for Rural Affairs and the Environment

has made the following regulations>-

(1) The title of these regulations is the Rearing of Broilers Title and scope.

Regulations, 2005.

(2) These regulations lay down the minimum standards for

the keeping of broilers in the territory of Malta.

(3) The provisions found under these regulations shall apply

without prejudice to the rules laid down under Legal Notice 266 of

2003> Farm Animals (Protection) Regulations, 2003.

(1) For the purpose of these regulations –

This application can only be used to apply for a licence for the keeping of chickens for meat production.

The Competent Authority shall accept only typed and fully completed forms accompanied by the MEPA

permit or written proof of the MEPA permit. The Competent Authority will treat all information on this

form in strictest confidence.

Farm Details

Name

Address

Phone number

Owners’ Details

Name

Surname

Address

Phone number / mobile number

Id. Number

Date of birth

Responsible person for day-to-day care of the birds

Name

Surname

Address

Phone number / mobile

Id. Number

Date of Birth

I / we do hereby certify that to the best of my/our knowledge and belief, the above particulars are true.

Dated this …………………………. day of…………………….., 200….

(Signed)…………………………….

The completion and return of this application form will be followed by a visit from an officer of the

Competent Authority to inspect the premises prior to a license being granted.

Interpretation.

(a) “broiler” means a chicken of the species Gallus gallus

kept for the production of meat<

(b) “Competent Authority” means the Veterinary Services

as provided under article 2 of the Veterinary Services Act, 2001<

(c) “batch” means the number of chickens purchased from

the same hatchery bearing the same batch-code<

(d) “flock” means the maximum number of chickens as

stipulated on the licence to be kept in one place at one time<

(e) “producer” means a person who rears and keeps broilers

intended for sale for human consumption<

(f) “establishment” means a production site on which

broilers are kept<

(g) “single house of an establishment” means a house or a

separated part of a house where broilers with the same batch-code

are kept<

(h) “MEPA permit” means a permit issued by the Malta

Environment and Planning Authority.

(1) Owners or keepers shall take all reasonable steps to ensure the welfare of animals under their care and

to ensure that those animals are not caused any unnecessary pain, suffering or injury.

(2) Any legal or natural person who employs or engages persons to attend to chickens or to catch and to

load them ensures that any such person has received instructions and guidance on the relevant animal

welfare requirements, including those concerning the culling in the establishment, and has received

sufficient train ing to perform their task.

(3) Drinkers shall be positioned and maintained in such a way that spillage is avoided. [Where nipple

drinkers are used they shall be regularly raised during the growth period in order to maintain them at a level

on which the chickens have to raise their head and neck to reach them].

(4) Producers shall ensure that food is kept in a dry and clean manner and stored in a separate room away

from the broiler housing.

(5) Feed must not be withdrawn from chickens for more than 12 hours before the expected slaughter time.

(6) All chickens shall have permanent access to litter, which is dry and friable on the surface.

(7) All chickens shall be inspected at least twice a day. The keeper shall establish a procedure, which

ensures that the inspecting person passes all chickens at a distance of not more than three metres.

(8) Birds that are seriously injured or show signs of poor health such as those having difficulties in walking,

severe ascites or severe malformations, and are likely to suffer, shall be culled immediately.

(9) Those parts of buildings, equipment or utensils which are in contact with the chickens shall be

thoroughly cleaned and disinfected every time after depopulation is carried out, before a new batch of

chickens is introduced into the unit.

(10) Ventilation shall be sufficient to avoid overheating and, where necessary in combination with heating

systems, to remove moisture. Ventilation and heating systems shall be designed and operated in such a way

that inlet air and heating is evenly distributed to the chickens. The air quality, including dust levels and the

concentration of gases shall be kept at a level, which does not harm the chickens.

(11) The sound level shall be minimised. Ventilation fans, feeding machinery or other equipment shall be

constructed, placed, operated and maintained in such a way that they cause the least possible amount of

noise.

(12) Broilers, which do not have access to daylight, should be given at least eight hours of artificial lighting

each day. It is important for bird welfare to provide them with a period of darkness, not less than 1 hour in

each 24-hour cycle.

(13) All buildings shall have light with an intensity of at least 20 lux during the light periods, measures at

bird eye level. A temporary reduction of the light level may be allowed when necessary following

veterinary advice.

(14) A twilight period should be given in the dimming of lights sufficient to permit birds to settle without

disturbance or injury.

(15) Without prejudice to the provisions of point 19 of the Schedule to the Farm Animals (Protection)

Regulations, 2003 (Legal Notice 266 of 2003), the Competent Authority may authorise beak trimming

provided that it is carried out by qualified staff on chickens that are less than ten days old. Furthermore the

Competent Authority may authorise the castration of chickens. The castration shall only be carried out

under veterinary supervision by personnel, which have received training authorised by the Competent

Authority.

(16) Additionally to the records kept in accordance with point 5 of the Schedule to the Farm Animals

(Protection) Regulations of 2003 (Legal Notice 266 of 2003), owners or keepers shall maintain a record for

each unit of an establishment of the -

-

Number and origin of chickens brought in;

-

Number of chickens sent for slaughter;

-

The number of culls with reason for cull, leg culls shall be specifically identified;

-

Medicine and vaccine administration records, these records shall include the prescription,

duration of treatment, dosage and signature of the veterinary surgeon.

(17) The records shall be retained for a period of at least three years and shall be made available to the

competent authority when carrying out an inspection or when otherwise requested.

(1) Any person or establishment rearing or keeping 20

broilers or more shall apply for a licence with the Competent Authority.

(2) The application for a licence shall be received by the

Competent Authority at least six weeks before the activity takes place

and according to the specifications of Schedule A to these regulations.

(3) The rearing or keeping or the intention to rear 20 broilers

or more shall also be covered by a MEPA permit, except in the case of

establishments built prior to 1968. The producer shall apply to sanction

the premises with MEPA for any illegalities that may exist on site and

shall provide the Competent Authority with a copy of this application>

Provided that in case no MEPA permit is required written

proof of this shall be provided to the Competent Authority.

(4) The licence shall specify the maximum number of

broilers which can be kept by a particular producer at a specific place,

and it may not be transferred unless the licensed premises are sold or

rented to the transferee or if otherwise a change in the person over the

right of the specific premises is established, and the Competent Authority

approves the transfer.

(5) The licence shall be valid for one year and may be

renewed by the Competent Authority from year to year. An annual fee

shall be payable to the Competent Authority for issuing a licence.

(6) No license shall be issued or renewed unless the Competent

Authority is satisfied that the conditions of these regulations and of any

regulations regarding waste management are being complied with, in

which case -

(a) If such conditions are met, the Competent Authority will

provide or renew a licence for the activity<

(b) If such conditions are not met, the Competent Authority

shall recommend measures and, if necessary, it shall suspend or

prohibit the activity with immediate effect.

(7) Producers who did not have their licence renewed may

apply for a new licence according to the conditions of these regulations.

(Yellow Form)

AUTHORITY TO PURCHASE CHICKS

Reference

Date of issue

Mr. __________ is granted authority to purchase __________ chicks on _________ and up to 15 days

after, and must be kept at

Premises code: ____________

The birds may not be moved from the above premises, except for immediate slaughter, without written

permission from the Director General of the Veterinary Services.

This authority may be revoked at any time, and is subject to the number of ______ chickens kept at the

premises never exceeding the authorised capacity of _______ birds.

Signature of issuing officer

Signature of producer

For

Director General

Food & Veterinary Regulation Division

(1) The stocking density per square metre shall at no time

exceed 13 birds or a totality of 28 kilograms live weight>

Provided that producers may keep chickens at a higher stocking

density not exceeding 30 kilograms live weight and 20 birds per square

metre at any time in the establishment or single houses of an

establishment provided approval by the Competent Authority.

(2) Producers shall rear at least three flocks of broilers

annually. There shall be a minimum resting period of 3 weeks between

each batch.

(3) Producers rearing less than three flocks of broilers shall

have a written authorisation issued by the Competent Authority.

(4) Chickens with different batch codes shall not be housed

together in the single houses of the establishment without the approval

of the Competent Authority.

(Pink Form)

BROILER CHICKS

Batch code

Supplier

Batch size

___________ chicks

Arrival date

Producer

License No. _____________

Broiler Sales List

Sub-batch

Date of

Processor

No. Broilers

Total kg

Code

Despatch

Code

Supplied

Live weight

TOTAL -

________ kg

Number for home consumption

Number that died on farm

Number which is unaccounted for

Director General

Producer

Processor

Veterinary Services

Mitbug[ fl-Istamperija tal-Gvern — Printed at the Government Printing Press

Broilers shall only be slaughtered in accordance with the Conditions for

regulations laid down under the Animal Slaughter or Killing (Protection) slaughtering

broilers.

Regulations, 2003. This shall only take place in slaughtering

establishments approved by the Competent Authority>

Provided that the Competent Authority may authorise certain

special conditions for slaughtering of broilers outside slaughtering

establishments authorised by the Competent Authority.

(1) No producer shall order or purchase broilers without Authorisation form

informing the Competent Authority at least 30 days prior to the purchase and pink form.

of the chickens.

(2) The pink form as found under Schedule D to these

regulations shall be collected from the Competent Authority at least

three weeks prior to the date of slaughter of the broilers and shall be

returned fully completed immediately after slaughter.

The Competent Authority shall take the necessary measures Inspection.

to ensure that inspections to monitor compliance with the provisions of

these regulations are carried out. These inspections may be carried out

on the occasion of checks made for other purposes and at any time.

(1) Subject to the provisions of these regulations and of the Penalty for non-

Animal Welfare Act, a person who infringes any of the provisions arising fulfilment

obligations.

from these regulations, shall, on conviction be liable to a fine (multa)

of not less than two thousand Maltese liri and not exceeding six thousand

Maltese liri.

(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-regulation

(1) of this regulation, the Court may also order any person who is found

guilty of committing an offence under these regulations, to pay for the

expenses incurred by the Veterinary Services as a result of the said

offence as well as the revocation of the permit issued under these

regulations.

The Poultry (Broilers) Keeping Regulations, 1989 are hereby Repeal of Legal

Notice 156 of 1989.

being repealed.