S.I. No. 33/1953:

POULTRY HATCHERIES REGULATIONS, 1953.

POULTRY HATCHERIES REGULATIONS, 1953.

I, THOMAS WALSH, Minister for Agriculture, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by the Poultry Hatcheries Act, 1947 (No. 49 of 1947), hereby make the following regulations, that is to say :--

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Poultry Hatcheries Regulations, 1953.

2. These Regulations shall come into operation insofar as they relate to turkeys and ducks on the 1st day of February, 1953, and insofar as they relate to domestic fowls on the 1st day of November, 1953.

3. In these Regulations :--

the expression " the Act " means the Poultry Hatcheries Act, 1947 (No. 49 of 1947) ;

the word " acquire " includes purchase and also includes acquiring or obtaining by barter, exchange or any other means;

the word " birds " means domestic fowls, turkeys and ducks ;

the word " chickens " means domestic fowls up to the age of eight weeks ;

the word " poults " means turkeys up to the age of eight weeks ;

the word " ducklings " means ducks up to the age of eight weeks ;

the word " pullets " means female domestic fowls between the ages of eight weeks and eighteen months ;

the word " hens " means female domestic fowls of or over the age of eighteen months ;

the expression " supply farm " means an egg supply farm for which a provisional permit is in force.

4. Poultry hatcheries of the following classes shall be exempted from subsection (1) of section 8 of the act--

(a) any poultry hatchery the total incubator capacity of which is less than 300 eggs other than such a poultry hatchery which operates as an adjunct of a particular supply farm and engages in the distribution of poultry up to the age of eight weeks by sale or otherwise ;

(b) any poultry hatchery which does not engage in the distribution of poultry up to the age of eight weeks by sale or otherwise ;

(c) any poultry hatchery which the Minister is satisfied is operating for experimental or educational purposes.

5. Every application for a poultry hatchery licence or a provisional permit shall be made in each year within such time as may be determined by the Minister and shall be in such one of the Forms set out in Schedule No. 1 to the Principal Regulations as is appropriate to the particular application and shall contain the particulars prescribed by that Form and shall, when duly completed by the applicant, be lodged (together with the appropriate fee) with the Minister at his office in Dublin.

6. The records to be kept at every licensed poultry hatchery shall be in the Forms P.H. 2 and P.H. 3 set out in Schedule No. 2 hereto and the entries which shall be made in the said records shall be those indicated in the said Forms and such entries shall--

(a) in the case of Form P.H. 2 be made within twenty-four hours after the hatching of any eggs set for incubation at the hatchery, and

(b) in the case of Form P.H. 3 be made within twenty-four hours after the despatch of any birds from the hatchery.

7.--(1) The records to be kept at every supply farm shall be in the Forms S.F. 2, S.F. 3, S.F. 4, S.F. 5, S.F. 6, S.F. 7, and S.F. 8, set out in Schedule No. 3 hereto and the entries which shall be made in the said records shall be those indicated in the said Forms and such entries shall--

(a) in the case of Form S.F. 2 be made on such date as shall be specified on the Form,

(b) in the case of Form S.F. 6 be made daily, and

(c) in the case of Forms S.F. 3, S.F. 4, S.F. 5, S.F. 7, and S.F. 8, be made within twenty-four hours after the occurrence of the events to which they relate.

(2) The record of eggs laid by pullets at every supply farm in respect of which a provisional permit for the supply of eggs of domestic fowl is in force shall be in the Form S.F. 6 (a) set out in Schedule No. 3 hereto and the entries which shall be made in the said record shall be those indicated in the said Form and such entries shall be made daily.

8. A docket in such one of Form P.H. 4 or Form P.H. 5 set out in Schedule No. 4 hereto as is appropriate shall be made out in triplicate at every licensed poultry hatchery in respect of any eggs acquired for hatching at and any birds despatched from such hatchery and the three parts of such docket shall be dealt with in the following manner, that is to say :--

(a) the original of such docket shall be delivered or posted to the person from whom the eggs have been acquired or to whom the birds have been despatched within twenty-four hours of the arrival of the eggs at or the despatch of the birds from the hatchery,

(b) the first copy thereof shall be lodged with the Minister at his office in Dublin within seven days of the arrival of the eggs at or the despatch of the birds from the hatchery, and

(c) the second copy thereof shall be retained at the hatchery and shall be available for inspection by an inspector.

9. A docket in the Form S.F. 9 set out in Schedule No. 5 hereto shall be made out in duplicate at every supply farm in respect of any hatching eggs despatched from such farm and the two parts of such docket shall be dealt with in the following manner, that is to say :--

(a) the original of such docket bearing the impression of the appropriate stamp supplied by the Minister shall be delivered or posted to the person to whom the eggs have been despatched within twenty-four hours of the despatch of the eggs, and

(b) the first copy thereof shall be retained at the farm and shall be available for inspection by an inspector.

10. Eggs other than eggs of the species of poultry in respect of which a licence is in force shall not be incubated at a licensed poultry hatchery save with the prior consent of the Minister in writing and in accordance with such conditions as the Minister thinks proper.

11. An egg more than ten days old or a dirty, badly-shaped or defectively shelled egg shall not be incubated at a licensed poultry hatchery.

12. An egg acquired from a supply farm shall not be incubated at a licensed poultry hatchery unless such egg bears the impression of the stamp supplied by the Minister for use on such farm.

13. All infertile eggs and incubator waste and all dead, weak, malformed and abnormal birds at a licensed poultry hatchery shall be disposed of in accordance with directions issued by the Minister or an inspector.

14. Any measures as to the method of handling, treating and disposing of eggs at a licensed poultry hatchery, which the Minister or an inspector may direct, shall be adopted.

15. Only vigorous chickens or poults or ducklings free from obvious deformity shall be distributed from a licensed poultry hatchery.

16. Boxes, other than new boxes, shall not be used for the despatch of chickens or poults or ducklings from a licensed poultry hatchery.

17. Unless the Minister or an inspector otherwise directs, chickens or poults or ducklings shall not be retained at a licensed poultry hatchery for longer than forty-eight hours and during the period of retention shall be retained in a section of such hatchery effectively isolated from the incubator and sexing rooms.

18. A licensed poultry hatchery shall not acquire chickens or poults or ducklings from other licensed poultry hatcheries except with the prior permission of the Minister.

19. Poultry other than those acquired in accordance with Article 18 of these Regulations shall not be brought into a licensed poultry hatchery or retained there.

20. All poultry, other than birds approved as part of the stock at a supply farm, shall be excluded from the lands on which a licensed poultry hatchery is situated.

21. Any sexing at a licensed poultry hatchery shall be carried out in a room provided and used for that purpose only and such room shall be fitted with a wash-hand basin, running water, receptacles for faeces and all necessary facilities for cleansing, disinfection and sterilisation.

22. Every licensed poultry hatchery and all incubating and other equipment therein shall be kept in good order and repair and in a clean and sanitary condition.

23. The cleansing, disinfection or sterilisation of a licensed poultry hatchery and of the incubating and other equipment therein shall be carried out in accordance with directions issued by the Minister or an inspector.

24. Measures for the effective control of vermin shall be adopted at every licensed poultry hatchery.

25. The operatives at every licensed poultry hatchery shall wear suitable clothing which shall be washed and disinfected as often as may be required.

26. Any measures for the prevention of poultry disease at or spread of poultry disease within or from a licensed poultry hatchery, which the Minister or an inspector may direct, shall be adopted.

27. An inspector may at all reasonable times inspect chickens or poults or ducklings and eggs at a licensed poultry hatchery and in the case of suspected disease may remove from such hatchery such specimens as may be necessary for the purpose of diagnosis.

28. Evidence of poultry disease at a licensed poultry hatchery shall not be removed or destroyed or disguised for the purpose of concealing such disease.

29. The following measures, and any other measures which the Minister or an inspector may direct, shall be adopted at a licensed poultry hatchery immediately infectious or contagious disease amongst poultry is known to exist at any supply farm from which eggs have been acquired or are likely to be acquired by such hatchery :--

(a) the acquisition and incubation of eggs from such supply farm shall be discontinued until such time as the Minister or an inspector shall determine ;

(b) any eggs at the hatchery which have been acquired from such supply farm shall be destroyed ;

(c) representative specimens of chickens or poults or ducklings at the hatchery which have been hatched from eggs acquired from such supply farm shall if so required be furnished for examination to the Veterinary College, Ballsbridge, Dublin, or such other veterinary laboratory as may be approved by the Minister for the purpose.

(d) all other such chickens or poults or ducklings at the hatchery shall be destroyed and any other birds at the hatchery shall be destroyed if the Minister or an inspector so directs.

30. The following measures, and any other measures which the Minister or an inspector may direct, shall be adopted in the event of an outbreak of disease at a licensed poultry hatchery:--

(a) the owner of the hatchery shall notify the Minister of the outbreak within twenty-four hours of the occurrence of the outbreak ;

(b) the despatch of birds from the hatchery shall immediately be discontinued until such time as the Minister or an inspector shall determine.

31. In the event of an outbreak of disease or of unusual illness or significant mortality amongst poultry

(a) in proximity to a licensed poultry hatchery, or

(b) distributed from a licensed poultry hatchery within ten days from the date of their despatch from the hatchery

immediate notification of the outbreak or illness or mortality shall be sent by the owner of the hatchery to the Minister and any other measures which the Minister or an inspector may direct shall be adopted.

32. All birds at a supply farm shall be pure-bred, of high quality well developed and free from obvious deformity.

33. All birds at a supply farm which are used or are intended to be used for breeding purposes shall have been selected and ringed with sealed rings by an inspector.

34. All poultry over five months of age on a holding for which a provisional permit is sought shall, if the Minister so requires, have been found free from Salmonella Pullorum infection before a provisional permit is issued.

35. A bird of which an inspector does not approve shall not be retained at a supply farm.

36. Eggs for hatching or poultry shall not be brought on to a supply farm except with the prior permission of and under such conditions as may be determined by the Minister or an inspector.

37. All male birds used for breeding purposes at a supply farm shall as far as possible have been individually bred from tested ancestors.

38. The ratio of female to male birds used for breeding purposes at a supply farm shall be not more than--

(a) fifteen females to one male in the case of domestic fowls,

(b) twelve females to one male in the case of turkeys, and

(c) seven females to one male in the case of ducks.

39. Every egg supplied to a licensed poultry hatchery from a supply farm shall bear the impression of the stamp supplied by the Minister for use at such farm and such stamp shall be surrendered to the Minister at any time on demand by him.

40. Any measures for the prevention of poultry disease at or for the prevention of the spread of poultry disease within or from a supply farm, which the Minister or an inspector may direct, shall be adopted.

41. An inspector may at all reasonable times inspect poultry and eggs at a supply farm and in the case of suspected disease may remove from such farm such specimens of poultry and eggs as may be necessary for the purpose of diagnosis.

42. Evidence of poultry disease at a supply farm shall not be removed or destroyed or disguised for the purpose of concealing such disease.

43. Any outbreak of disease amongst poultry at a supply farm and any case of suspected infectious or contagious disease amongst such poultry and any unusual or unexplained illness or significant mortality amongst poultry in proximity to such farm shall be notified immediately to the Minister by the owner of such farm.

44. The following measure, and any other measures which the Minister or an inspector may direct shall be adopted at a supply farm immediately infectious or contagious disease is suspected to exist amongst poultry at such farm :--

the hatching of eggs at and distribution of hatching eggs and poultry from the supply farm shall be discontinued until such time as the Minister or an inspector shall determine.

45. The following measures, and any other measures which the Minister or an inspector may direct, shall be adopted at a supply farm immediately infectious or contagious disease is known to exist amongst poultry at such farm--

(a) the hatching of eggs at and distribution of hatching eggs and poultry from the supply farm shall be discontinued until such time as the Minister or an inspector shall direct ;

(b) representative specimens of poultry at the supply farm shall be furnished for examination to the Veterinary College, Ballsbridge, Dublin, or such other veterinary laboratory as may be approved by the Minister for such purpose ;

(c) all such diseased poultry and any other poultry which have been in contact with such diseased poultry as may be specified by the Minister or an inspector shall be disposed of in accordance with directions of the Minister or an inspector ;

(d) the supply farm and all equipment thereat shall be disinfected as directed by the Minister or an inspector.

46. Chickens or poults or ducklings for the replacement of stock at a supply farm shall--

(a) be hatched from eggs produced at the farm or from eggs acquired from sources deemed suitable by the Minister or an inspector, or

(b) be acquired only from sources deemed suitable by the Minister or an inspector.

47. Matings for the production of first-cross chickens or poults may be established at a supply farm provided--

(a) not more than one cross is made at any one time ; and

(b) two white breeds are not mated.

48. Different species of poultry at a supply farm shall be kept apart.

49. The incubation and rearing facilities, housing, range, management, husbandry methods and hygiene at a supply farm shall be of a standard satisfactory to the Minister or an inspector.

50. An egg more than ten days old or a dirty, badly-shaped or defectively shelled egg shall not be supplied for hatching from a supply farm or incubated at such farm.

51. The Poultry Hatcheries Regulations, 1948 to 1951, are hereby revoked as on and from the 1st day of November, 1953.

Form P.H. 1

SCHEDULE No. 1.

POULTRY HATCHERIES ACT, 1947 .

FORM OF APPLICATION FOR POULTRY HATCHERY LICENCE.

I/We (a) p163a............................................................ ............................................................ ...................................

............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ ........

............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ ........

of ............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ ...

............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ .........

hereby apply for a poultry hatchery licence in respect of the poultry hatchery situated at ............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ .........

for the incubation of eggs of (b) ............................................................ ........................................................

The total incubator egg-capacity of the hatchery is............................................................ ..................................

made up of (c) p163c............................................................ ............................................................ .............................

............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ .....

(d) p163d I/We propose carrying out sexing at the hatchery during the period

............................................................ ...............to ............................................................ .............................................

I/We enclose (e) p163e............................................................ ............................................................ ......................

for........................................being the fee payable in respect of the licence hereby applied for.

I/We declare that the above particulars are true to the best of my/our knowledge and belief.

Signature(s)..........................................................

......................................................

......................................................

......................................................

Date......................................................

N.B.--A separate application must be made in respect of each poultry hatchery for which a licence is sought.

(a) If a limited liability company the full description of the company should be given together with the name of the Secretary. If not a limited liability company the full name(s) of the proprietor(s) should be given.

(b)Insert species of poultry, ie.., domestic fowl or turkeys or ducks.

(c)Indicate make and capacity of each incubator.

(d)Strike out if not applicable.

(e)Insert crossed Postal Order, Post Office Money Order, Cheque or Banker's draft.

Form S.F. I.

POULTRY HATCHERIES ACT, 1947

FORM OF APPLICATION FOR PROVISIONAL PERMIT.

I............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ ..

of ............................................................ ............................................................ ........................................................... being the owner of an egg supply farm situated at........................................ for the supply of eggs of (a) p164a.........................................................by apply for a provisional permit in respect of the said farm. The breeds at the farm are............................................................ ............................................................ .........................

I enclose (b) p164b.........................................................for............................................................ ......................

being the fee payable in respect of the provisional permit.

I declare that the particulars set out herein are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature....................................................

Date........................................................

(a)Insert species of poultry, i.e., domestic fowl or turkeys or ducks.

(b)Insert crossed Postal Order, Post Office Money Order, Cheque or Banker's draft.

Form P.H. 2

SCHEDULE No. 2.

POULTRY HATCHERIES ACT, 1947 .

RECORD OF INCUBATION OF EGGS OF (a)........................

(A separate record to be kept for each setting in each incubator).

Incubator............................................................ ....... Date of setting.................................................

(Identification.)

(a) Insert species in respect of which licence is held, i.e., domestic fowls or turkeys or ducks.

Form P.H. 3.

POULTRY HATCHERIES ACT, 1947 .

RECORD OF (a).............................................DISTRIBUTED.

Incubator......................................................  Date of setting of eggs................................

(Identification)

(A separate record to be kept for each hatch from each incubator).

(a) Insert chickens or poults or ducklings.

Form S.F.2.

SCHEDULE No. 3.

POULTRY HATCHERIES ACT, 1947 .

RECORD OF POULTRY AT SUPPLY FARM ON........................... 19......

(a) Species of Poultry in respect of which Provisional Permit is held............................................................ .........

............................................................ .........................

(b) Other Poultry.

Form S.F. 3.

POULTRY HATCHERIES ACT, 1947

MORTALITY AMONGST POULTRY AT SUPPLY FARM

Species of Poultry for which provisional permit is held........................................................

Form S.F. 4.

POULTRY HATCHERIES ACT, 1947 .

RECORD OF HATCHINGS AT SUPPLY FARM.

Species of poultry for which provisional permit is held...........................................................

Form S.F. 5

POULTRY HATCHERIES ACT, 1947 .

RECORD OF POULTRY BROUGHT INTO SUPPLY FARM.

Species of poultry for which provisional permit is held..........................................................

Form S.F. 6.

POULTRY HATCHERIES ACT, 1947 .

RECORD OF HATCHING EGGS LAID AT SUPPLY FARM.

Species of poultry for which provisional permit is held..........................................................

Month............................................., 19.........

Form S.F. 6(a).

POULTRY HATCHERIES ACT, 1947 .

RECORD OF EGGS LAID BY PULLETS AT DOMESTIC FOWL SUPPLY FARM.

Months of......................................., 19..........

Form S.F. 7.

POULTRY HATCHERIES ACT, 1947 .

RECORD OF HATCHING EGGS DISTRIBUTED BY SALE OR OTHERWISE FROM SUPPLY FARM.

Species of poultry for which provisional permit is held..................................

Form S.F. 8.

POULTRY HATCHERIES ACT, 1947 .

RECORD OF BIRDS DISTRIBUTED BY SALE OR OTHERWISE FROM SUPPLY FARM.

Species of poultry for which provisional permit is held....................................

Form P.H. 4.

Docket No................

SCHEDULE No. 4.

POULTRY HATCHERIES ACT, 1947 .

Species of poultry for which license is held.............................................

To............................................................ ............................................................ ...........................................(name)

............................................................ ............................................................ ....................................(address)

The receipt from you on (date)............................................................ ............................................................ .....of

(number)............................................................ ..... (breed) ............................................................ ............................

(number) ............................................................ ..... (breed) ............................................................ ..........................

(number) ............................................................ .....(first-cross) ............................................................ ....................

hatching eggs at............................................................ ............................................................ ..................................

(licensed poultry hatchery)

is hereby acknowledged.

Signed............................................................ ....

Date......................................................

Form P.H. 5.

Docket No................

POULTRY HATCHERIES ACT, 1947 .

Name of Hatchery.................................................

Species of poultry for which hatchery is licensed............................................................ .....................................

To (name) ............................................................ ............................................................ .................................................

(address)............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................

You are hereby notified of the despatch to you from the above-named hatchery

on the............................................................ ............................................................ .....................................................

(date)

per............................................................ .........of the undermentioned birds.

(conveyance)

Important.--In the event of any outbreak of disease or any unexplained illness or significant mortality among these birds within two weeks from the date of their despatch from this Hatchery, a specimen or specimens should be sent immediately to the Veterinary College, Ballsbridge, Dublin (or any other Veterinary Laboratory approved for the purpose by the Minister for Agriculture), for examination, and this Docket should be enclosed.

Signed.........................................................

Date................................................

(TO BE COMPLETED AT HATCHERY.)

The official stamp numbers on the eggs from which these birds were hatched are as follows :--

.................................

.................................

.................................

Form S.F. 9.

Docket No................

SCHEDULE No. 5.

POULTRY HATCHERIES ACT, 1947 .

Species of poultry for which provisional permit is held............................................................ ......................

To............................................................ ............................................................ ............................................(name)

............................................................ ............................................................ ..........................................(address)

You are hereby notified of the despatch to you on (date)............................................................ ......................

............................................................ .....per (conveyance) ............................................................ ........................of

(number) ............................................................ ..... (breed) ............................................................ ............................

(number) ............................................................ ..... (breed) ............................................................ ............................

(number) ............................................................ ... (first-cross) ............................................................ ...................

hatching eggs.

Signed ....................................................

Date...................................................

GIVEN under my Official Seal this 23rd day of January, 1953.

(Signed) THOMAS WALSH,

Minister for Agriculture.