Beak trimming: the law by country

Named in the s.7(1) ban; s.7(2) exceptions are set by regulation under s.24, which was not opened. Rubber rings and caustics are banned (s.7(4)).

Tierschutzgesetz (TSchG), s.7(1)Checked 04 Nov 2026

National Farm Animal Care Council Code of Practice: an industry code, not a statute. NFACC says Code requirements are not explicitly binding in most provinces but can be evidence of distress. Referred to in provincial law: adopted in NL (NLR 36/12; NLR 35/12 s.15 makes a practice a code prohibits a prohibited one), prescribed in SK (Reg 1 s.3-4), named as a defence in NB (Reg 2000-4 s.4(2), Sch A) and BC (B.C. Reg. 34/2019, as generally accepted practice), accepted in NS (Act s.28(b)). On-farm trimming before 10 days of age, by competent persons; later only for emergency welfare reasons with veterinary oversight. Breeders: see the 2016 Hatching Eggs, Breeders, Chickens and Turkeys Code.

NFACC Code of Practice: Pullets and Laying Hens (2017, amended 2025) (industry code, not a statute)Checked 04 Nov 2026

Poultry in the first day of life; Muscovy ducks up to 21 days; cauterising beaks of egg-production chicks under 10 days. Text read on a legal publisher's copy of Act 246/1992 Sb. (last amended 1 April 2025), not the official collection.

Act 246/1992 Sb., s.7(3)(d) and (e)Checked 04 Nov 2026

A trained person may clip the beaks of chicks younger than 10 days. The agency page cites no section numbers; the statute itself could not be opened (Riigi Teataja needs a script-enabled browser), so check the current wording.

Animal Protection Act (Loomakaitseseadus), as stated by the Agriculture and Food Board (PTA)Checked 04 Nov 2026

Always prohibited for poultry and other birds.

Animal Welfare Act 693/2023 and the Government Decree on procedures, as stated by the Finnish Food Authority (Ruokavirasto)In force since 01 Jan 2024Checked 04 Nov 2026

The authority may permit trimming beak tips of laying-hen chicks under 10 days; s.6(3) also covers other farmed poultry.

Tierschutzgesetz, s.6(3)Checked 04 Nov 2026

To prevent pecking or cannibalism where other methods failed. Layers in flocks of 350+: under 10 days, automated infra-red. Meat poultry in flocks of 500+: under 10 days, on a vet's advice and supervision.

Animal Health and Welfare (Operations and Procedures) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 127/2014), Schedule, Part 7In force since 06 Mar 2014Checked 04 Nov 2026

Layer hens at 3 days of age or under, by infrared beam; breeder chickens at 6 days or under. No more than 25% of the beak, upper and lower trimmed to the same length. Breeder turkeys fall under r 56C too.

Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018, rr 56B, 56CIn force since 09 May 2021Checked 04 Nov 2026

Prohibited for poultry unless done to prevent major injury and disease in the flock. Consolidated text of 2013; later amendments up to ZZZiv-G of 2025 were not checked.

Zakon o zaščiti živali (ZZZiv-UPB2, Uradni list 38/2013), art. 20Checked 04 Nov 2026

At most one third of the beak. Laying hens on sites of 350+: only against feather pecking or cannibalism, infra-red, under 10 days, by a trained person, except emergency outbreak control. Meat chickens: under 10 days, trained person, on a vet's advice.

SI 2007/1100, Sch. 1 and Sch. 4, as amended 23 December 2010In force since 06 Apr 2007Checked 04 Nov 2026

Up to one third. Laying hens on sites of 350+: against pecking or cannibalism, infra-red, under 10 days, trained person, except emergencies. Meat chickens: under 10 days, trained person, after a vet's advice.

Welfare of Animals (Permitted Procedures by Lay Persons) Regulations (NI) 2012 (S.R. 2012/153), Sch. 7In force since 02 Apr 2012Checked 04 Nov 2026

Only against feather pecking and cannibalism. Laying hens on holdings of 350+ and meat chickens on holdings of 500+: under 10 days; layers by infra-red, except an emergency; meat chickens on a vet's advice, by qualified staff.

SSI 2010/387, Sch. 3In force since 05 Nov 2010Checked 04 Nov 2026

Suitable instrument, at most one third, bleeding stopped by cauterising; extra limits for laying hens in larger establishments. Text read as made in 2007; later amendments not checked.

WSI 2007/1029, Sch. 4In force since 28 Mar 2007Checked 04 Nov 2026