The Poultry Laying Flocks (Collection and Handling of Eggs and Control of Vermin) Order 1989

Made: 25th May 1989

Coming into force: 26th May 1989

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales, acting jointly, in exercise of the powers conferred on them by sections 1, 72 and 86(1) of the Animal Health Act 1981[^f00001] and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following Order:

Title and commencement

1

This Order may be cited as the Poultry Laying Flocks (Collection and Handling of Eggs and Control of Vermin) Order 1989 and shall come into force on 26th May 1989.

Interpretation

2

In this Order–

• “laying flock” means a flock of poultry any of the eggs of which are sold for human consumption;

• “poultry” means domestic fowls;

• “vermin” means rats, mice, flies or cockroaches.

Collection and handling of eggs

3

It shall be the duty of the owner of a laying flock to ensure that the requirements specified in the Schedule to this Order relating to the collection and handling of eggs from laying flocks are complied with on the premises on which the flock is kept.

Control of vermin etc.

4

It shall be the duty of the owner of a laying flock to ensure that, on the premises on which the flock is kept, effective measures are taken so as to ensure that,–

• (a) poultryhouses and buildings or parts of buildings used to store eggs are not infested by vermin; and

• (b) poultryhouses in which poultry are housed permanently throughout their laying period are not accessible to any other birds at any time.

Offences

5

Any person who, without lawful authority or excuse, proof of which shall lie on him, contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of this Order commits an offence against the Animal Health Act 1981.

Local authority to enforce Order

6

The provisions of this Order shall be executed and enforced by the local authority.

SCHEDULE — REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO THE COLLECTION AND HANDLING OF EGGS FROM LAYING FLOCKS

1

All persons collecting or otherwise handling eggs must wash their hands immediately before and after doing so.

2

Eggs must be collected from the flock at least once each day.

3

Where eggs are collected by an automatic system, any broken, leaking or dented eggs must be removed from the system as soon as practicable. Where eggs are collected by hand, any broken, leaking or dented eggs should be separated from other eggs and subsequently stored and disposed of separately from other eggs.

4

No eggs must be placed in dirty or soiled trays.

5

All eggs must be stored in buildings or parts of buildings under such conditions as are necessary to prevent surface condensation and no poultry must be permitted access to such buildings or parts of buildings.

6

All–

• (a) equipment used for the collection and handling of eggs, and

• (b) storage and packing units must be kept in a clean condition.

Signed

In Witness whereof the Official Seal of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is hereunto affixed on 25th May 1989.

John MacGregor — Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Sanderson of Bowden — Minister of State, Scottish Office — 23rd May 1989

Peter Walker — Secretary of State for Wales — 23rd May 1989

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order requires the owner of a laying flock to ensure that specified requirements relating to the collection and handling of eggs from such a flock are complied with on the premises on which the flock is kept (article 3 and Schedule). Such a person is also required to ensure that specified requirements relating to the control of vermin are complied with on those premises (article 4).

A“laying flock”, for the purposes of this Order, means a flock of domestic fowls any of the eggs of which are sold for human consumption (article 2).

Footnotes

[^f00001]: 1981 c. 22, as applied by S.I. 1989/285; section 86(1) contains a definition of“the Ministers” relevant to the exercise of the statutory powers under which this Order is made.