ANIMALS, WALES Title, application and commencement 1 These Regulations are called the Registration of Establishments (Laying Hens) (Wales) Regulations 2004; they apply only to Wales and come into force on 31st May 2004. Interpretation 2 1 In these Regulations — ... “ establishment ” (“ sefydliad ”) means any production site at which laying hens are kept; “ laying hens ” (“ ieir dodwy ”) means hens of the species Gallus gallus which have reached maturity and are kept for the production of eggs not intended for hatching; “ local authority ” (“ awdurdod lleol ”) means the council of any county or county borough in Wales; ... “ register ” (“ cofrestr ”) means the register of establishments maintained by the Welsh Ministers pursuant to regulation 4. Excluded establishments 3 These Regulations do not apply to establishments — a having fewer than 350 laying hens; or b rearing breeding laying hens. Establishment of a register and provision of a distinguishing number 4 1 The Welsh Ministers shall create and maintain a register of establishments. 2 The Welsh Ministers must within a reasonable time after receipt of an application to note an establishment on the register allocate a distinguishing number composed in accordance with paragraph (3) to the establishment and communicate that number to the applicant. 3 The distinguishing number must be composed of the appropriate farming method code determined in accordance with paragraphs (5) to (7), followed by the letters “UK”, followed by a unique identification number allocated to the establishment by the Welsh Ministers. 4 Where it appears appropriate to the Welsh Ministers to do so, they may add further characters to the unique identification number required by paragraph (3) in order to identify single flocks kept in separate buildings of an establishment. 5 Except where paragraph (6) applies, when the farming method in column A is used, the appropriate farming method code is the corresponding number in column B. Column A Column B Free Range 1 Barn 2 Cages 3 6 Where the farming method used in the establishment produces eggs under the conditions set out in Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products, the appropriate farming method code is “0”. 7 For the purposes of paragraph (5), the farming method used in an establishment is to be determined in accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 589/2008 laying down rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards marketing standards for eggs. Exchange of information 5 1 The Food Standards Agency is permitted to have access to the register for the purpose of tracing eggs put on the market for human consumption. 2 The local authority is permitted to have access to the register for the purpose of enforcement of these Regulations. Prohibition on operation or bringing into service of establishments 6 1 After 30th June 2004 no person may continue to operate an establishment in operation on that date unless an application has been made to note that establishment on the register. 2 No person may bring an establishment into operation after 30th June 2004 unless an application has been made to note that establishment on the register and a distinguishing number communicated to the applicant by the Welsh Ministers . 3 Applications must contain the information set out in the Schedule and be in the form that the Welsh Ministers require . 4 Any change to the information supplied to the Welsh Ministers must be notified within 28 days. Powers of authorised officers 7 1 An officer authorised by the Welsh Ministers or the local authority will, on producing if required to do so some duly authenticated document showing his or her authority, have the right at all reasonable hours to enter any land or premises for the purposes of ascertaining whether there is or has been on or in respect of the premises any contravention of these Regulations. 2 Such an officer will have powers to carry out all checks and examinations necessary for the enforcement of these Regulations, and in particular may examine documentary or data processing material. Obstruction 8 1 No person may — a obstruct any person acting in the execution of these Regulations; b without reasonable cause, fail to give any person acting in the execution of these Regulations any assistance or information which that person may reasonably require for the purposes of his or her functions under these Regulations; or c furnish to any person acting in the execution of these Regulations any information which he or she knows to be false. 2 Nothing in paragraph (1)(b) above is to be construed as requiring any person to answer any question or give any information if to do so might incriminate that person. Offences by body corporate 9 1 When a body corporate is guilty of an offence under these Regulations, and that offence is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to have been attributable to any neglect on the part of — a any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or b any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity, that person as well as the body corporate will be guilty of an offence and be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. 2 For the purposes of paragraph (1) above, “ director ” in relation to a body corporate whose affairs are managed by its members, means a member of the body corporate. Penalties 10 1 A person contravening any provision of these Regulations is guilty of an offence. 2 A person guilty of an offence under these Regulations is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale. Enforcement 11 These Regulations are to be enforced by the local authority or the Welsh Ministers . Signed on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales under section 66(1) of the Government of Wales Act 1998 D. Elis-Thomas The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly