Commission Regulation (EC) No 699/2006 of  5 May 2006  amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 as regards conditions of access for poultry to open-air runs
Date: 2006-05-05
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: animal disease, livestock farming, organic farming, poultry, public health, veterinary inspection, veterinary legislation

L 121/36

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

6.5.2006

COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 699/2006

of 5 May 2006

amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 as regards conditions of access for
poultry to open-air runs

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty
Community,

establishing the European

Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 of
24 June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products
and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and
foodstuffs (1), and in particular the second indent of Article 13
thereof,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

According to the principles of organic farming, livestock
should have
to open-air or grazing areas,
access
whenever weather conditions permit.

rules on organic production provide

an
Current
for mammals where
exception to this principle
to
or
Community
specific animal health problems prevent access of these
animals to outdoor areas. However, no exception is
provided for organic poultry.

requirements

national

relating

the

continuity of

In the light of current concerns about the spread of avian
influenza, it is necessary to take account of precautionary
measures which may require poultry to remain indoors.
For the sake of coherence and clarity and in order to
the organic poultry
guarantee
production system,
to allow
producers to keep their poultry indoors without losing
including veterinary
organic status, where restrictions,
restrictions, which
of
on
Community law for the purpose of protecting public
or animal health, prevent poultry from having access to
the open-air or to grazing areas.

also necessary

taken

basis

the

are

is

it

(4)

Restricting access to outdoor runs for poultry used to
their
access may
permanent outdoor
welfare. In order to reduce the negative impact of such

compromise

measures the animals shall have permanent access to
sufficient quantities of roughage and suitable material
allowing each bird to take up roughage, scratch and
dust bath according to its needs.

Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 should therefore be
amended accordingly.

There is an urgent need for the measures provided for in
this Regulation, considering that restrictions are already
being applied in certain Member States. This Regulation
should therefore enter into force on the day of its publi-
cation in the Official Journal of the European Union.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in
accordance with the opinion of the Committee set up
by Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91,

(5)

(6)

(7)

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

In part B of Annex I to Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 the
following point 8.4.7 is added:

‘8.4.7. Notwithstanding the provisions laid down in points
8.4.2 and 8.4.5, poultry may be kept indoors where
restrictions, including veterinary restrictions, which
are taken on the basis of Community law for the
purpose of protecting public or animal health,
prevent or restrict access of poultry to open-air
runs.

Where poultry are kept indoors, they shall perma-
to sufficient quantities of
nently have
roughage and suitable material
in order to meet
the poultry’s ethological needs.

access

(1) OJ L 198, 22.7.1991, p. 1. Regulation as

last amended by
Commission Regulation (EC) No 592/2006 (OJ L 104, 13.4.2006,
p. 13).

The Commission shall examine the application of
this paragraph,
regards animal
in particular as
welfare requirements, by 15 October 2006.’

6.5.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 121/37

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European
Union.

Article 2

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 5 May 2006.

For the Commission

Mariann FISCHER BOEL
Member of the Commission