{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2008-543/annex-V",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2008-543/annex-V.json",
  "legislation": "eur/2008/543",
  "legislation_title": "Commission Regulation (EC) No 543/2008 of 16 June 2008 laying down detailed rules for the application of Council Regulation (EC) No 1234/2007 as regards the marketing standards for poultrymeat",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2008-543",
  "path": "annex/V",
  "kind": "annex",
  "number": "V",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "The conditions referred to in Article 11 are as follows:\n(a)Fed with …% of …\nReference to the following particular feed ingredients may only be made where:\nin the case of cereals, they account for at least 65 % by weight of the feed formula given during the greater part of the fattening period, which may not include more than 15 % of cereal by-products; however, where reference is made to one specific cereal, it shall account for at least 35 % of the feed formula used, and for at least 50 % in the case of maize,\nin the case of pulses or green vegetables they account for at least 5 % by weight of the feed formula given during most of the fattening period,\nin the case of dairy products, they account for at least 5 % by weight of the feed formula given during the finishing stage.\nThe term ‘Oats-fed goose’ may however be used where the geese are fed during the finishing stage of three weeks not less than 500 g of oats per day.\n(b)Extensive indoor (barn-reared)\nThis term may only be used where:\n(i)the stocking rate per m2 floor space does not exceed, in the case of:\nchickens, young cocks, capons: 15 birds but not more than 25 kg liveweight,\nducks, guinea fowl, turkeys: 25 kg liveweight,\ngeese: 15 kg liveweight,\n(ii)the birds are slaughtered, in the case of:\nchickens at 56 days or later,\nturkeys at 70 days or later,\ngeese at 112 days or later,\nPeking ducks: 49 days or later,\nMuscovy ducks: 70 days or later for females, 84 days or later for males,\nfemale Mulard ducks: 65 days or later,\nguinea fowl: 82 days or later,\nyoung geese (goslings): 60 days or later,\nyoung cocks: 90 days or later,\ncapons: 140 days or later.\n(c)Free range\nThis term may only be used where:\n(i)the stocking rate in the house and the age of slaughter are in accordance with the limits fixed under (b), except for chickens, for which the stocking rate may be increased to 13, but not more than 27,5 kg liveweight per m2 and for capons, for which the stocking rate shall not exceed 7,5 m2, and not more than 27,5 kg liveweight per m2,\n(ii)the birds have had during at least half their lifetime continuous daytime access to open-air runs comprising an area mainly covered by vegetation of not less than:\n1 m2 per chicken or guinea fowl,\n2 m2 per duck or per capon,\n4 m2 per turkey or goose.\nIn the case of guinea fowls, open-air runs may be replaced by a perchery having a floor surface of at least that of the house and a height of at least 2 m. Perches of at least 10 cm length are available per bird in total (house and perchery),\n(iii)the feed formula used in the fattening stage contains at least 70 % of cereals,\n(iv)the poultryhouse is provided with popholes of a combined length at least equal to 4 m per 100 m2 surface of the house.\n(d)Traditional free range\nThis term may only be used where:\n(i)the indoor stocking rate per m2 does not exceed in the case of:\nchickens: 12 but not more than 25 kg liveweight; however, in the case of mobile houses not exceeding 150 m2 floor space and which remain open at night, the stocking rate may be increased to 20, but not more than 40 kg liveweight per m2,\ncapons: 6,25 (up to 91 days of age: 12) but not more than 35 kg liveweight,\nMuscovy and Peking ducks: 8 males but not more than 35 kg liveweight, 10 females but not more than 25 kg liveweight,\nMulard ducks: 8 but not more than 35 kg liveweight,\nguinea fowl: 13 but not more than 25 kg liveweight,\nturkeys: 6,25 (up to seven weeks of age: 10) but not more than 35 kg liveweight,\ngeese: 5 (up to six weeks of age: 10), 3 during last three weeks of fattening if kept in claustration, but not more than 30 kg liveweight,\n(ii)the total usable area of poultryhouses at any single production site does not exceed 1 600 m2,\n(iii)each poultryhouse does not contain more than:\n4 800 chickens,\n5 200 guinea fowl,\n4 000 female Muscovy or Peking ducks or 3 200 male Muscovy or Peking ducks or 3 200 Mulard ducks,\n2 500 capons, geese and turkeys,\n(iv)the poultryhouse is provided with popholes of a combined length at least equal to 4 m per 100 m2 surface of the house,\n(v)there is continuous daytime access to open-air runs at least as from the age of:\nsix weeks in the case of chickens, and capons,\neight weeks in the case of ducks, geese, guinea fowl and turkeys,\n(vi)open-air runs comprise an area mainly covered by vegetation amounting to at least:\n2 m2 per chicken or Muscovy or Peking duck or guinea fowl,\n3 m2 per Mulard duck,\n4 m2 per capon, as from 92 days (2 m2 up to 91st day),\n6 m2 per turkey,\n10 m2 per goose.\nIn the case of guinea fowls, open-air runs may be replaced by a perchery having a floor surface of at least double that of the house and a height of at least 2 m. Perches of at least 10 cm length are available per bird in total (house and perchery),\n(vii)the birds fattened are of a strain recognised as being slow growing,\n(viii)the feed formula used in the fattening stage contains at least 70 % of cereals,\n(ix)the minimum age at slaughter is:\n81 days for chickens,\n150 days for capons,\n49 days for Peking ducks,\n70 days for female Muscovy ducks,\n84 days for male Muscovy ducks,\n92 days for Mulard ducks,\n94 days for guinea fowl,\n140 days for turkeys and geese marketed whole for roasting,\n98 days for female turkeys intended for cutting up,\n126 days for male turkeys intended for cutting up,\n95 days for geese intended for the production of foie gras and magret,\n60 days for young geese (goslings),\n(x)finition in claustration does not exceed:\nfor chickens after 90 days of age: 15 days,\nfor capons: four weeks,\nfor geese and Mulard ducks intended for the production of foie gras and magret, after 70 days of age: 4 weeks.\n(e)Free range — total freedom\nThe use of this term shall require conformity with the criteria set out under (d), except that the birds shall have continuous daytime access to open-air runs of unlimited area.\nIn the event of restrictions, including veterinary restrictions adopted under assimilated direct legislation to protect public and animal health, having the effect of temporarily restricting the access of poultry to open-air runs, poultry reared in accordance with the production methods described in points (c), (d) and (e) of the first subparagraph, with the exception of guinea fowls reared in percheries, may continue to be marketed with a special reference to the method of rearing for the duration of the restriction but under no circumstances for more than 12 weeksas free-range despite any such restrictions\nThe second subparagraph does not apply to poultrymeat marketed in England.\nFor poultrymeat marketed in England in the event of restrictions, including veterinary restrictions adopted under assimilated law to protect public and animal health, having the effect of restricting the access of poultry to open-air runs, poultry reared in accordance with the production methods described in points (c), (d) and (e) of the first subparagraph, with the exception of guinea fowls reared in percheries, may be marketed as ‘free-range’ notwithstanding that restriction.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in Annex 5 point (e) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Common Organisation of the Markets in Agricultural Products and Common Agricultural Policy (Miscellaneous Amendments etc.) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1422), regs. 1, 8(22); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in Annex 5 point (e) substituted (27.2.2025) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/82), reg. 1(2), Sch. 15 para. 78"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Word in Annex 5 point (e) inserted (S.) (7.11.2025) by The Free-Range Poultrymeat Marketing Standards (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/338), regs. 1, 2(2)(a)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "Words in Annex 5 point (e) substituted (W.) (21.11.2025) by The Free-Range Poultrymeat Marketing Standards (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1122), regs. 1(3), 2(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "Words in Annex 5 point (e) omitted (S.) (7.11.2025) by virtue of The Free-Range Poultrymeat Marketing Standards (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (S.S.I. 2025/338), regs. 1, 2(2)(b)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "Words in Annex 5 inserted (E.) (17.9.2025) by The Free-Range Poultrymeat Marketing Standards (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1029), regs. 1(1), 2"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2008/543/annex/V",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T14:52:14.162749+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}