Huw Irranca-Davies, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs
The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (“the Regulations”) were laid before the UK Parliament on 1 July. The Secretary of State is making the Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 30(1) and 30a(8) of assimilated Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations (“1/2005”).
This follows a joint public consultation on poultry catching and handling: Poultry catching and handling: proposed changes to permitted methods | GOV.WALES
Members of the Senedd will wish to be aware that I have given my consent to the UK Government to exercise a subordinate legislation-making power in a devolved area in relation to Wales.
The Regulations amend 1/2005 to exempt chickens, and turkeys weighing 5 kg and less, from the prohibition on the lifting of animals by their legs. When chickens, and turkeys weighing 5 kg and less, are caught by the legs, they must be caught, lifted and carried by two legs (not by one leg). This amendment removes a discrepancy between 1/2005 and the statutory codes of practice for the welfare of laying hens and pullets, and the welfare of meat chickens and meat breeding chickens. For turkeys weighing more than 5 kg it is prohibited to lift or carry them in an inverted position, whether by holding the legs or otherwise.
The Regulations provide the poultry industry, and their associated catching companies, with clarity on the legal requirements that apply to the catching of poultry during transport operations.
It is normally the policy of the Welsh Government to legislate for Wales in matters of devolved competence. However, in certain circumstances there are benefits to working collaboratively with the UK Government where there is a clear rationale for doing so. On this occasion, I have given my consent to the UK Government to make the Regulations. This approach will ensure the Regulations are introduced simultaneously across England, Wales, and Scotland, and will provide the poultry industry with clarity on the legal requirements that apply to the catching of poultry during transport operations. Separate regulations, or any divergence in the coming into force of regulations, across Great Britain could lead to complexity, inconsistencies and administrative burden for industry and enforcement agencies.
Welsh Government officials have a good working relationship with their Defra counterparts and will continue to work with them and the Scottish Government to strengthen the protection of animal welfare during transport, maintaining positive and constructive intergovernmental relations.
The Regulations were laid before the UK Parliament, using the negative procedure, on 1 July and are scheduled to come into force on 22 July 2025.