S.L. 439.12 Art. 4Requirements for the keeping of chickens.

(1) The competent authority shall ensure that:

(a) all houses comply with the requirements set out in Schedule I and authorised by the competent authority with the approval of a permit issued by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA) according to the requirements set out in Schedule II;

(b) the required inspections and the monitoring and follow-up, including those provided for in Schedule III are carried out by an official veterinarian.

(2) The competent authority shall ensure that the maximum stocking density in a holding or a house of a holding does not at 2 any time exceed 33 kg/m .

(3) By way of derogation from sub-regulation (2), the competent authority may provide that chickens be kept at a higher stocking density provided that the owner or keeper complies with the requirements set out in Schedule II, in addition to the requirements set out in Schedule I.

(4) The competent authority shall ensure that, when a derogation is granted under sub-regulation (3), the maximum stocking density in a holding or a house of a holding does not at 2 any time exceed 39 kg/m .

(5) When the criteria set out in Schedule V are fulfilled, the competent authority may allow that the maximum stocking density referred to in sub-regulation (4) be increased by a maximum of 3 2 kg/m .