1.

Pregnant sows and gilts must, if necessary, be treated against external and internal parasites. If they are placed in farrowing crates, pregnant sows and gilts must be thoroughly cleaned. 2. They must be provided with a clean, adequately drained, comfortable lying area and must, if necessary, be given suitable nesting material. 3. An unobstructed area behind the sow or gilt must be available for the ease of natural or assisted farrowing. 4. Farrowing crates where sows are kept loose must have some means of protecting the piglets, such as farrowing rails. III. PIGLETS 1. If necessary, piglets must be provided with a source of heat and a solid, dry and comfortable lying area away from the sow where all of them can rest at the same time. 2. Where a farrowing crate is used, the piglets must have sufficient space to be able to be suckled without difficulty. 3. If practised, the castration of male pigs aged over four weeks may be carried out only under anaesthetic by a veterinarian or a person qualified in accordance with national legislation. 4. Neither tail docking nor tooth clipping must be carried out routinely but only when there is evidence, on the farm, that injuries to sows' teats or to other pigs' ears or tails have occurred as a result of not carrying out these procedures. Where tooth clipping appears necessary, this must be carried out within seven days of birth. 5. Piglets must not be weaned from the sow at less than three weeks of age unless the welfare or health of the dam or piglets would otherwise be adversely affected. IV. WEANERS AND REARING PIGS Pigs must be placed in groups as soon as possible after weaning. They should be kept in stable groups with as little mixing as possible.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Cellar) · retrieved 2026-11-06 · Text as adopted (Official Journal); later amendments are not incorporated in this text.