Following French concerns that there were poor quality capons being marketed in France, the definition of "capon" has been amended. It previously stated:
"male fowl castrated surgically before having reached sexual maturity".
Following the adoption of Regulation 1000/96 (published on 5 June 1996), it now reads:
"male fowl castrated surgically before reaching sexual maturity and slaughtered at a minimum age of 140 days; after castration the capons must be fattened for at least 77 days".
Regulation 1000/96 also makes some related changes to the references to capons in Annex IV of 1538/91, which specifies the production criteria that must be met in order to make use of certain marketing terms (e.g. free range).