National Norms and Standards relating to Environmental Health

a) On any residential premises, only 5 (five) or less adult rabbits may be kept on the premises in aproclaimed township.b) On premises zoned for agricultural purposes, not more than 20 (twenty) adult rabbit may be kept onthe premises. If more than 20 (twenty) adult rabbits are kept on the premises such premises must bein possession of a permit authorizing that activity by the relevant local authority.c) Rabbits must be kept in a rabbit hutch.d) The walls of the rabbit hutch must be constructed of brick, stone, concrete or other imperviousmaterial and must have a smooth internal surface.e) The floor surface must be constructed of concrete or other impervious material brought to a smoothfinish, situated at least 150 mm above ground level, and graded to a channel drained in terms ofsection 143, if required by an Environmental Health Practitioner.f) The hutch must be adequately ventilated.g) The rabbit hutch must be adequate in size to allow free unobstructed movement of animals kepttherein.h) Any rabbit run must be enclosed with wire mesh or other durable material and constructed in a waythat prevents the escape of rabbits from the run.i) The walls of a building or structure housing a battery system must be at least 2,4 meters high and beconstructed of concrete, stone, brick or other durable material and must have a smooth internalsurface.j) If walls are provided, the building or structure must be ventilated and lighted by means of naturalopenings or windows of an area not less than 15% of the floor area of the building or structure.k) The floor must be constructed of concrete or other impervious material brought to a smooth finish,and if required by an Environmental Health Practitioner, the floor surface must be graded to a channeldrained.l) If no walls are provided, or walls are made of metal, the floor must be provided with curb at least 150mm high around its outside edges, every cage must be constructed of an impervious material andfitted with trays of an impervious material for the reception of manure.m) A water supply adequate for drinking and cleaning purposes must be provided in or next to everyrabbit hutch or building or structure housing battery system.n) Rabbit hutch, rabbit run or building or structure housing a battery system must be located within atleast 5m any house, building or other structure used for human habitation, any place where foodstuffsare stored or prepared for human consumption, or the nearest boundary of any land.o) An adequate rodent proof store room must be provided for the storage of feed.p) Adequate washing facilities must be provided for the cleaning of cages.3.8 Hygiene standards for keeping of rabbitsa) All rabbits must be kept within the rabbit hutch, rabbit run or building or structure housing a batterysystem.b) The premises and any equipment, apparatus, containers or receptacles used in connection withkeeping rabbits must be kept in a clean, sanitary condition and in good repair.c) The premises must be maintained free from offensive odours and every rabbit hutch, rabbit run orbuilding or structure housing a battery system and all cages clean and free form pests.d) Portable manure storage receptacles of an impervious material with closefitting lids must be providedwhich receptacles must be kept on a platform.e) All manure and any other waste matter must be removed from the rabbit hutch, rabbit run or buildingor structure housing a battery system, at least once every 48 hours.f) Manure and waste must be kept in manure storage receptacles until it is removed from the premise.g) The contents of the manure storage receptacles must be removed from the premises at least onceevery seven days and dispose of the contents in a way which will not create public health nuisance.h) Adequate measures must be taken to keep the premises free of pests.3.9 Requirements for keeping of birds other than poultrya) Birds, other than poultry must be kept in a aviary which must be constructed of durable rodent-proofmaterialb) Adequate access must be provided for cleaning purpose.DOH. Norms and standards for environmental health in South Africa Feb 2013 63