S.L. 439.2 Art. 3Minimum requirements for holdings.

(1) All holdings shall comply with the following requirements:

(a) the unobstructed floor area available to each weaner or rearing pig kept in a group, excluding gilts after service and sows, must be at least: Live weight (kg) Unobstructed floor Area 2 (m ) Not more than 10 0,15 More than 10 but not more than 20 0,20 More than 20 but not more than 30 0,30 More than 30 but not more than 50 0,40 More than 50 but not more than 85 0,55 More than 85 but not more than 110 0,65 More than 110 1,00;

(b) the total unobstructed floor area available to each gilt after service and to each sow when gilts and/or sows 2 2 are kept in groups must be at least 1,64 m and 2,25 m respectively. When these animals are kept in groups of fewer than six individuals the unobstructed floor area must be increased by 10%. When these animals are kept in groups of 40 or more individuals the unobstructed floor area may be decreased by 10%.

(2) Flooring surfaces shall comply with the following requirements:

(a) for gilts after service and pregnant sows: a part of the area required in sub-regulation (1)(b), equal to at least 2 2 0,95 m per gilt and at least 1,3 m per sow, must be of continuous solid floor of which a maximum of 15% is reserved for drainage openings;

(b) when concrete slatted floors are used for pigs kept in groups:

(i) the maximum width of the openings must be: - 11 mm for piglets, - 14 mm for weaners, - 18 mm for rearing pigs, - 20 mm for gilts after service and sows;

(ii) the minimum slat width must be: - 50 mm for piglets and weaners, and - 80 mm for rearing pigs, gilts after service and sows.

(3) The construction of or conversion to installations in which sows and gilts are tethered is prohibited.

(4) Sows and gilts shall be kept in groups during a period starting from four weeks after the service to one week before the expected time of farrowing. The pen where the group is kept must have sides greater than 2,8 m in length. When fewer than six individuals are kept in a group the pen where the group is kept must have sides greater than 2,4 m in length:

Provided that, sows and gilts raised on holdings with fewer than 10 sows may be kept individually during the period mentioned in this sub-regulation, provided that they can turn around easily in their boxes.

(5) Without prejudice to the requirements laid down in the Schedule, sows and gilts shall have permanent access to manipulable material at least complying with the relevant requirements of that Schedule.

(6) Sows and gilts kept in groups shall be fed using a system which ensures that each individual can obtain sufficient food even when competitors for the food are present.

(7) All dry pregnant sows and gilts, in order to satisfy their hunger and given the need to chew, shall be given a sufficient quantity of bulky or high-fibre food as well as high-energy food.

(8) Pigs that have to be kept in groups, that are particularly aggressive, that have been attacked by other pigs or that are sick or injured may temporarily be kept in individual pens. In this case the individual pen used shall allow the animal to turn around easily if this is not in contradiction with specific veterinary advice.

(9) The provisions laid down in sub-regulation (4) shall not apply to holdings with fewer than ten sows.