INSPECTION OF HOLDINGS (FARM ANIMALS) REGULATIONS *

INSPECTION OF HOLDINGS (FARM ANIMALS)

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 439.11

INSPECTION OF HOLDINGS (FARM ANIMALS)

REGULATIONS *

30th September, 2003

LEGAL NOTICE 268 of 2003.

The title of these regulations is the Inspection of Holdings

(Farm Animals) Regulations.

1. Species or category of animals

(a) Calves

(b) Pigs

(c) Laying hens.

2. Table concerning the information requested for each species and category of

animals based on the Annex of European Union Council Directive 98/58/EC.

Information requested for each species and category of animals

Territory of Malta

Year

Species and category of animal

Calves

Pigs

Laying Hens

Number of holdings

Number of inspections/ average

Kind and number of infringements

Number of legal actions taken in

consequence

Requirement

Definition (according to European Total number

Advice

Other

Union Council Directive 98/58/EC)

sanctions

Staffing

Animal shall be cared by an

appropriate number of staff who

possesses the appropriate

knowledge

Inspection

Animal shall be inspected at least

once a day.

Adequate light shall be available to

enable the animals to be thoroughly

inspected at any time.

Animal which appears to be ill or

injured must be cared for

appropriately without delay.

Where necessary sick or injured

animals shall be isolated in suitable

accommodation.

Record keeping

The owner or keeper shall maintain

a record of any medicinal treatment

given and of the number of

mortalities found at each inspection.

For a period of at least three years.

Freedom of

The animal must not be restricted in

movement

such a way as to cause it

unnecessary suffering or injury.

Buildings

Materials and equipment with

which the animals may come into

contact must not be harmful to the

animals.

No sharp edges or protrusions.

Air circulation, dust levels,

temperature, relative air humidity

and gas concentration must be kept

in limits which are not harmful to

the animals.

Animals kept in buildings must not

be kept in permanent darkness or

without an appropriate period of

rest.

INSPECTION OF HOLDINGS (FARM ANIMALS)

Equipment

Where the health and well-being of

the animals is dependent on an

artificial ventilation system,

provision must be made for an

appropriate backup system to

guarantee sufficient air renewal to

preserve the health and well-being

of the animals in the event of failure

of the system, and an alarm system

must be provided to give warning of

breakdown.

Feeding and other N o o t h e r s u b s t a n c e , w i t h t h e

substances

exception of those given for

therapeutic, or prophylactic

p ur p o s e s o r f or t he p u rp o s e s of

zootechnical treatment as defined in

article 1(2)(c) of European Union

Council Directive 96/ 22/EC must

be administered to an animal unless

it has been demonstrated by

scientific studies of animal welfare

or established experience that the

effect of that substance is not

detrimental to the health or welfare

of the animal.

Mutilations

Reference to national legislation.

Breeding

Natural or artificial breeding or

procedures

breeding procedures which cause or

a r e l i k e l y t o c a u s e su ff e r i n g o r

injury to any of the animals

concerned must not be practised.

This provision shall not preclude

the use of certain procedures likely

to cause minimal or momentary

suffering or injury, or which might

necessitate interventions w hich

w o u l d n o t c a u s e l a s t i n g i n j u r y,

where these are allowed by national

provisions.

(1) The scope of these regulations is to implement the

provisions set out under European Union Commission Decision

2000/50/EC concerning minimum requirements for the inspection

of holdings on which animals are kept for farming purposes.

(2) For the purposes of these regulations "trading partner" shall

have the same meaning as given in article 2 of the Veterinary

Services Act and shall include Member States of the European

Union.

(1) The Veterinary Services will submit a report including

the results of the inspections carried out in the field of the

protection of animals kept for farming purposes. This report will be

addressed to the trading partners and to the European Commission.

(2) In the light of the provisions of article 6(3) of European

Union Council Directive 98/58/EC, the report will have to comply

with the information specified in the Schedule.

(3) The report will have to be presented every two years, by the

last working day in April.

*These regulations have been repealed by Legal Notice 187 of 2022.

INSPECTION OF HOLDINGS (FARM ANIMALS)