Regulation - Poultry farming

Egg Marking (Stamping) and Registration of Establishments (laying hens) (England) Regulations 2003

Under these regulations, all laying hens establishments with 350 or more laying hens must be registered. This requirement does not include farms that rear breeding laying hens. Also, all Class A eggs sold at retail level in the EU have to be marked with a code that identifies the establishment, country of origin and method of production. Read more about registration and stamping on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) website.

Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations 2000

These regulations include details of the welfare requirements for farming poultry. There is helpful guidance on these requirements on the Defra website. For more information:

• download a code of recommendations on laying hens (PDF)
• read guidance on the welfare of laying hens
• read a summary of the requirements for poultry farming made under the Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations 2000

Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations 1999

Under these regulations, poultry farms with places for 40,000 or more birds must apply for a permit from either the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) or the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) of Northern Ireland. For more information on these regulations:

• read IPPC guidance for farmers on the Environment Agency website
• read PPC guidance for intensive agriculture on the Sepa website
• read IPPC guidance for intensive livestock installations on the EHS website

There is also environmental legislation that applies to all poultry farms. The Environment Agency provides comprehensive guidance on housing, feeding and watering, egg cleaning and much more. Find out about environmental legislation that applies to poultry farmers from the Environment Agency website.

Poultry Breeding Flocks and Hatcheries Order 1993

This order details the requirements for registration and Salmonella testing that apply to breeding flocks and hatcheries.

Diseases of Poultry Order 2003

This order details the procedures that have to be carried out if a notifiable poultry disease is suspected or confirmed.

Egg Marketing Standards Regulations 1995

These regulations set out various requirements for hatcheries, including:

• registration of hatcheries
• transportation
• documentations
• marking eggs for hatching

Ungraded Eggs (Hygiene) Regulations 1990

These regulations apply to farmers that sell ungraded eggs either from the farmgate or in a local market.

More information

Defra provides comprehensive guidance on all of the legislation that affects the poultry sector, including the specific legislation detailed above and also how general livestock legislation applies to poultry farming. Find out more about the legislation that applies to poultry farms from the Defra website.

Business Guidelines and Grant Information

• Read more about registration on the Defra website
• Find out more about the legislation that applies to poultry farms from the Defra website
• Find out what licences and permits you need to trade using our interactive tool
• View local and national events linked to this topic
• View grants and support schemes linked to this topic

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