S.L. 439.12 Art. 1Title and scope.

(1) The title of these regulations is the Minimum Rules (Protection of Chickens kept for Meat Production) Regulations.

(2) The scope of these regulations is to transpose and implement Council Directive 2007/43/EC laying down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production. These regulations:

(a) establish rules at Community level for the protection of chickens kept for meat production in order to avoid distortion of competition that may interfere with the smooth running of the common market;

(b) lay down minimum rules for the protection of chickens for meat production in accordance with the principle of proportionality for the achievement of the basic objective of introducing animal welfare improvements in the intensive farming of chickens;

(c) set a minimum threshold for the applicability of minimum rules in order to avoid disproportionate measures applicable to the keeping of small flocks of chickens; and

(d) maintain a balance between the various aspects to be taken into account, as regards animal welfare, health, economic and social considerations and the environmental impact in establishing rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production.