The Free-Range Poultrymeat Marketing Standards (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025

Made: 6th November 2025

Coming into force: 7th November 2025

The Scottish Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 9(1) of the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Act 2020[^f00001] and all other powers enabling them to do so.

In accordance with section 9(5) of the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Act 2020, the Scottish Ministers have consulted such persons as they consider are representative of the interests of persons likely to be affected by the Regulations as they consider appropriate.

There has been consultation as required by Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety[^f00002].

In accordance with section 9(4) of the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Act 2020, a draft of this instrument has been laid before and approved by resolution of the Scottish Parliament.

Citation and commencement

1

These Regulations may be cited as the Free-Range Poultrymeat Marketing Standards (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 and come into force on the day after the day on which they are made.

Amendment of Commission Regulation (EC) No 543/2008

2

• (1) Commission Regulation (EC) No 543/2008 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards the marketing standards for poultrymeat[^f00003] is amended as follows.

• (2) In Annex 5, in point (e) (Free range - total freedom), in the second subparagraph—

• (a) before “restricting” insert “temporarily”,

• (b) omit “but under no circumstances for more than 12 weeks”.

Signed

JIM FAIRLIE — Authorised to sign by the Scottish Ministers — 6th November 2025

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

Explanatory Note

These Regulations amend Commission Regulation (EC) No 543/2008 (“EUR 2008/543”) which lays down detailed rules as regards marketing standards for poultrymeat.

Regulation 2 amends EUR 2008/543 to remove the 12 week limit on the length of time poultrymeat can continue to be marked as “free-range” where the birds’ daytime access to open-air runs is restricted. It provides that poultrymeat can be marked as “free-range” notwithstanding any temporary restriction imposed on the basis of assimilated direct law to protect public or animal health.

A Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment has been prepared and is available online at www.legislation.gov.uk.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 2020 asp 17.

[^f00002]: EUR 2002/178.

[^f00003]: EUR 2008/543, relevantly amended by S.I. 2019/1422 and S.I. 2025/82.