Council Directive 1999/74/EC laying down minimum standards for the protection of laying hens.

Subject

Livestock

Keyword

Animal welfare Poultry Inspection

Geographical area

European Union Countries

Entry into force notes

The Directive entered into force on 3 August 1999.

Abstract

The object of this Directive is to establish minimum standards for the protection of laying hens. This Directive shall not apply neither to establishments with fewer than 350 laying hens, nor to establishments rearing breeding laying hens. Nevertheless, such establishments shall continue to be subject to the relevant requirements of Directive 98/58/EC. Article 2 sets forth definitions with a view to defining the application scope of the present provisions. In particular, for the purposes of this Directive “laying hens" means hens of the species Gallus gallus which have reached laying maturity and are kept for production of eggs not intended for hatching. Member States must guarantee that the owners and holders of laying hens apply not only the relevant provisions of Directive 98/58/EC and of the Annex to this Directive but also the requirements specific to each of the systems referred to below, namely: (a) either the provisions laid down in Chapter I as regards alternative systems; (b) or the provisions laid down in Chapter II as regards unenriched cage systems; (c) or the provisions of Chapter III concerning enriched cages. The provisions contained in the aforesaid Chapters aim at protecting laying hens, particularly in respect of equipment, drinking and feeding conditions and facilities, areas where hens are kept. Article 9 refers to checks to be carried out by experts from the Commission to verify the compliance with this Directive.

Full text

English

Website

europa.eu

References - Legislation

Implemented by

Protection of Animals Act (No. 344 of 2005).

Legislation | Denmark | 1991

Keyword: Animal welfare, Slaughtering, Institution, Inspection, Poultry, Swine, Transport/storage

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Laying Hens Industries Register Act.

Legislation | Germany | 2003

Keyword: Poultry, Animal health, Registration, International trade

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Protection of Animals Act (No. 1343 of 2007).

Legislation | Denmark | 2005

Keyword: Animal welfare, Basic legislation, Slaughtering, Institution, Inspection, Poultry, Swine, Transport/storage

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

European Communities (Welfare of Farmed Animals) Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 14 of 2008).

Legislation | Ireland | 2008

Keyword: Aquaculture, Mariculture, Animal production, Animal welfare, Swine, Cattle, Animal feed/feedstuffs, Slaughtering

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Welfare of Farmed Animals (Wales) Regulations 2007 (W.S.I. No. 3070 (W. 264) of 2007).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2007

Keyword: Animal welfare, Cattle, Animal production, Poultry, Swine, Rodents, Offences/penalties

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 2078 of 2007).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2007 (2020)

Keyword: Animal welfare, Cattle, Animal production, Poultry, Swine, Rodents, Offences/penalties

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S.R. No. 156 of 2012).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2012

Keyword: Animal welfare, Animal health, Offences/penalties

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Laying Hens Industries Register Act.

Legislation | Germany | 2003 (2014)

Keyword: Poultry, Animal health, Registration, International trade

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Prohibited Procedures on Protected Animals (Exemptions) (Scotland) Regulations 2010 (S.S.I. No. 387 of 2010).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2010

Keyword: Aquaculture, Animal welfare, Slaughtering, Offences/penalties

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Commission Decision 2006/778/EC concerning minimum requirements for the collection of information during the inspections of production sites on which certain animals are kept for farming purposes.

Legislation | European Union | 2006

Keyword: Cattle, Swine, Poultry, Inspection, Ranching/captive breeding

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Decree No. 40 of 2003 relative to laying hens.

Legislation | Netherlands | 2003

Keyword: Poultry products, Traceability/product tracing, Food quality control/food safety, Animal welfare, Animal production, Poultry, Registration

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Animal Protection Act (2000).

Legislation | Estonia | 2000 (2022)

Keyword: Animal welfare, Basic legislation, Transport/storage, Internal trade, Liability/compensation, Aquaculture, Mariculture, Slaughtering, Animal health, Keeping of live animals, Genetically modified organism (GMO), Wild fauna

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Animal Protection - Laying Hen Ordinance.

Legislation | Austria | 2004

Keyword: Animal welfare, Poultry, Inspection

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Legislative Decree No. 267 implementing Directives 1999/74/EC and 2002/4/EC concerning the protection of laying hens and the registration of establishments keeping laying hens.

Legislation | Italy | 2003

Keyword: Animal welfare, Poultry, Registration, Inspection, Offences/penalties

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Decree No. 32 of 1999 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Regional Development on animal protection rules to be respected during animal husbandry.

Legislation | Hungary | 1999 (2013)

Keyword: Animal welfare, Animal production, Standards

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Law No. XXVIII of 1998 on animal protection.

Legislation | Hungary | 1998 (2015)

Keyword: Animal welfare, Animal production, Offences/penalties, Basic legislation, Dangerous animal/harmful animal, Transport/storage, Keeping of live animals, Wild fauna

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

European Communities (Welfare of Laying Hens) Regulations 2002 (S.I. No. 98 of 2002).

Legislation | Ireland | 2002

Keyword: Animal production, Animal welfare, Poultry, Animal feed/feedstuffs, Inspection, Animal health

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Laying Hens (Protection) Regulations, 2003 (L.N. 264 of 2003).

Legislation | Malta | 2003

Keyword: Animal welfare, Poultry, Inspection, Registration, Offences/penalties

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Real Decreto Nº 3/2002 - Normas de protección de las gallinas ponedoras.

Legislation | Spain | 2002

Keyword: Animal health, Animal welfare, Poultry, Hygiene/sanitary procedures, Inspection

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Ordinance by the Viennese government amending the Regional Ordinance on keeping of battery chicken.

Legislation | Austria | 2002

Keyword: Animal welfare, Poultry

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Ordinance by the Viennese government amending the Ordinance by the Viennese government on raising cattle, pigs and poultry.

Legislation | Austria | 2002

Keyword: Animal welfare, Animal production, Cattle, Swine, Poultry

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Règlement grand-ducal établissant les normes minimales relatives à la protection des poules pondeuses.

Legislation | Luxembourg | 2002

Keyword: Animal welfare, Poultry, Inspection

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Welfare of Farmed Animals (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 (S.R. No. 259 of 2002).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2002

Keyword: Animal welfare, Poultry, Animal production

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Commission Directive 2002/4/EC on the registration of establishments keeping laying hens, covered by Council Directive 1999/74/EC.

Legislation | European Union | 2002

Keyword: Poultry, Registration, Data collection/reporting

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Decree No. 545 of 2001 relative to battery hens.

Legislation | Netherlands | 2001

Keyword: Animal welfare, Animal production, Poultry

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

European Communities (Welfare of Farmed Animals) Regulations 2010 (S.I. No. 311 of 2010).

Legislation | Ireland | 2010

Keyword: Aquaculture, Mariculture, Animal production, Animal welfare, Swine, Cattle, Animal feed/feedstuffs, Slaughtering, Poultry, Inspection

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation on the protection of livestock.

Legislation | Slovenia | 2010 (2023)

Keyword: Animal health, Animal welfare, Ranching/captive breeding, Poultry, Cattle, Swine

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Protection of Animals Act (No. 473 of 2014).

Legislation | Denmark | 2013 (2014)

Keyword: Basic legislation, Animal welfare, Slaughtering, Institution, Inspection, Poultry, Swine, Transport/storage, Standards, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Data collection/reporting

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Welfare of Animals (Permitted Procedures by Lay Persons) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (S.R. No. 153 of 2012).

Legislation | United Kingdom | 2012

Keyword: Animal welfare, Animal health, Marking/identification, Offences/penalties

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulation on minimum conditions of keeping individual species of livestock.

Legislation | Poland | 2010

Keyword: Animal welfare, Poultry, Swine, Cattle

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Animal Welfare Act (693/2023).

Legislation | Finland | 2023

Keyword: Basic legislation, Animal welfare, Animal health, Pests/diseases, Animal production, Animal reproduction, Data collection/reporting, Slaughtering, Registration, Poultry, Marking/identification, Swine, Inspection, Equine-animals, Cattle, Sheep/goats, Birds, Enforcement/compliance, Offences/penalties, Governance, Wild fauna

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Regulations no. 761 of 2003 on Animal Protection and Welfare (Protection of Egg-Laying Hens).

Legislation | Cyprus | 2003

Keyword: Poultry products, Registration, Animal production, Animal welfare, Poultry, Animal feed/feedstuffs, Animal health, Hygiene/sanitary procedures, Inspection, Livestock water use, International trade

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Cabinet Regulation No. 744 of 2009 on Welfare Requirements of Laying Hens and Procedures for Registration of Establishments Keeping Laying Hens

Legislation | Latvia | 2009 (2012)

Keyword: Poultry, Animal welfare, Business/industry/corporations, Registration, Hygiene/sanitary procedures

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Cabinet Regulation No. 102 of 2003 on Welfare Requirements of Laying Hens

Legislation | Latvia | 2003

Keyword: Birds, Animal welfare, Business/industry/corporations, Hygiene/sanitary procedures, Poultry

Source: FAO, FAOLEX

Amended by

Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products.

Legislation | European Union | 2017 (2021)

Keyword: Enforcement/compliance, Basic legislation, Food quality control/food safety, Packaging/labelling, Internal trade, International trade, Ecological production/organic production, Certification, Agricultural commodities, Residues, Drugs, Animal feed/feedstuffs, Animal welfare, Animal health, Plant protection, Pesticides

Source: FAO, FAOLEX