Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 (S.R. No. 270 of 2000).

The Regulations together with the Community legislation which they implement reflect the obligations contained in the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes of 10th March 1976, as read with the Protocol of Amendment to the European Convention for the Protection of Animals kept for Farming Purposes of 6 February 1992. The Regulations apply to all animals kept for farming purposes (subject to certain limited exceptions) (reg. 2(4)). Regulation 3(1) lays down the general principle that owners and keepers of animals kept for farming purposes must take reasonable steps to ensure the welfare of animals in their care and to prevent them any unnecessary pain, suffering or injury. This principle applies to all animals (including fish, reptiles and amphibians). The Regulations also provide for general requirements which apply in the case of all farmed animals (other than fish, reptiles and amphibians) (reg. 3(2) and Schedule 1) and for sets of specific additional requirements which apply in the cases of laying hens (reg. 4 and Schedule 2), poultry other than laying hens (reg.5 and Schedule 3), calves (reg. 6 and Schedule 4), cattle (reg. 7 and Schedule 5), pigs (reg. 8 and Schedule 6) and rabbits (reg. 9 and Schedule 7).