Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007
What this means for your business
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 7 compliance obligations, 5 practical guides
What you must do
7 compliance obligations under this legislation.
Equipment and safety 1
Provide enriched cages that meet required standards for laying hens
Unlimited fineIf you keep laying hens you must use an enriched cage system that complies with Schedule 4. Each cage must have the correct floor area, usable space, nest, litter, perch, feed trough length, drinking system, aisle width and claw‑shortening devices, and you must be able to show that these standards are met.
Management duties 5
Ensure welfare standards for conventionally reared meat chickens
If you keep conventionally reared meat chickens you must meet a whole set of welfare rules – from having a recognised training certificate, to limiting the number of birds per square metre, notifying the Secretary of State if you exceed the basic density, and maintaining proper ventilation, lighting, feed, water, litter, noise control and cleaning. You also need to inspect birds twice daily, keep detailed records and provide mortality information to slaughterhouses.
Provide suitable indoor housing for lactating and calving cows
If you keep dairy cows that are milking or about to calve inside a building, you must give them a dry, well‑drained, bedded area they can use at any time. The pen or yard must be big enough for a person to attend the cows, and the calving cows must be kept separate from any other livestock.
Provide suitably sized and weather‑protected housing for rabbits
If your business keeps rabbits, you must use hutches or cages that are big enough for the rabbits to move around, eat, drink and lie on their sides together, and tall enough for them to sit upright without their ears touching the top. Where the rabbit accommodation is exposed to the elements, you must give the rabbits access to proper shelter from weather and direct sunlight.
Provide welfare‑appropriate housing and follow schedule requirements for farmed animals
If you keep poultry, laying hens, calves, cattle, pigs or rabbits, you must make sure they have suitable bedding, drainage and other facilities and that you meet all the specific conditions set out in the relevant Schedules. The duty applies to any animal you are responsible for, so you need to manage housing and care to meet those standards continuously.
Stop using conventional cages for laying hens
Unlimited fineYou must not build any new conventional (unenriched) cage systems for laying hens and, from 1 January 2012, you must not keep laying hens in any of those cages. Any existing conventional cages need to be removed or replaced with an approved system before that date.
Training 1
Know and follow relevant animal welfare codes of practice
If you are responsible for a farmed animal you must be familiar with the specific code of practice that applies to that species and keep the code with you whenever you handle the animal. You also have to make sure anyone you employ or engage to look after the animal is familiar with the code, can access it while working, and receives proper instruction and guidance on it.
Penalties for non-compliance
2 penalties under this legislation. 2 carry an unlimited fine.
Provide enriched cages that meet required standards for laying hens
Unlimited fine
Stop using conventional cages for laying hens
Unlimited fine
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Meet pig welfare requirements on your farm
Legal requirements for pig welfare in England. Covers the five welfare needs, space requirements, environmental enrichment, permitted procedures, housing standards, …
Navigate farm assurance schemes
Comparison of major UK farm assurance schemes including Red Tractor, RSPCA Assured, Soil Association Organic, and LEAF Marque. Covers membership …
Meet cattle welfare requirements
Legal welfare requirements for keeping cattle in England, covering the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Welfare of Farmed Animals …
Meet poultry welfare requirements
Legal requirements for keeping poultry in the UK, including the five welfare needs, stocking densities, lighting, litter management, environmental enrichment, …
Meet sheep welfare requirements on your farm
How to meet your legal obligations for sheep welfare in the UK. Covers the Five Welfare Needs, housing and shelter, …
Sections and provisions
11 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 7
- Schedule 3 Additional conditions that apply to the keeping of laying hens in conventional cages cage
- Schedule 4 Additional conditions that apply to the keeping of laying hens in enriched cages
- s.5 Additional duties on persons responsible for poultry, laying hens, calves, cattle, pigs or rabbits kept in a building
- s.6 Codes of Practice
- Schedule 7 Additional conditions that apply to the keeping of cattle
- Schedule 9 Additional conditions that apply to the keeping of rabbits
- Schedule 5A Additional conditions that apply in relation to conventionally reared meat chickens the stocking density