Meat Chickens and Breeding Chickens

Council Directive 2007/43 establishes for the first time detailed rules governing the conditions under which meat chickens are kept.  The Directive is a package of measures for improving meat chicken welfare and sets conditions from the time chicks are brought to production sites, until they leave for slaughter.  The Directive applies to holdings with more than 500 birds but does not apply to holdings with only breeding stocks of meat chickens, hatcheries, nor to chickens marketed as extensive indoor, free range or organic.  However, these holdings will continue to be subjected to Northern Ireland Welfare of Animals Legislation.

The Directive was transposed into legislation here by The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010, which came into operation from 29 October 2010.

The draft Code of Recommendations provides advice and practical guidance in relation to meat chickens (broilers) and details of relevant legislation.

Council Directive 2007/43  
Draft Code of Recommendations
The Welfare of Farmed Animals (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2010