The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995

Regulations 9(a) and 10(a)

SCHEDULE 3 REQUIREMENTS FOR ANIMALS AWAITING SLAUGHTER OR KILLING

PART I INTRODUCTORY

Interpretation

1.  In this Schedule “animal” means any soliped, ruminant, pig, rabbit or bird.

PART II REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL ANIMALS AWAITING SLAUGHTER OR KILLING

General requirements

2.  The occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard and any person engaged in the movement of lairaging of animals shall ensure that—

(a) every animal is unloaded as soon as possible after its arrival and, if delay in unloading is unavoidable, it is protected from adverse weather conditions and is provided with adequate ventilation;

(b) when unloaded, every animal is protected from adverse weather conditions and is provided with adequate ventilation;

(c) if any animal has been subjected to high temperatures in humid weather, it is cooled by appropriate means;

(d) any animals which might injure each other on account of their species, sex, age or origin or for any other reason are kept and lairaged apart from each other;

(e) pending the slaughter or killing of any sick or disabled animal in the slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard, it is kept apart from any animal which is not sick or disabled; and

(f) no person drags any animal which has been stunned or killed over any other animal which has not been stunned or killed.

Inspection of animals

3.  The occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard shall ensure that the condition and state of health of every animal is inspected at least every morning and evening by him or by a competent person acting on his behalf.

Slaughter or killing of animals which have experienced pain or suffering and unweaned animals

4.  The occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard and any person engaged in the movement or lairaging of any animal shall ensure that—

(a) any animal which has experienced pain or suffering during transport or following its arrival at the slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard; and

(b) any animal which is too young to take solid feed,

is slaughtered or killed immediately.

Emergency slaughter and killing

5.  The occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard and any person engaged in the movement of lairaging of any animal shall ensure that any animal which is unable to walk is not dragged to its place of slaughter or killing but—

(a) is slaughtered or killed where it lies; or

(b) if it is possible and to do so would not cause any unnecessary pain or suffering, is transported on a trolley or movable platform to a place of emergency slaughter or killing where it is then immediately slaughtered or killed.

PART III ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ANIMALS DELIVERED OTHER THAN IN CONTAINERS

Treatment of animals delivered other than in containers

6.  In addition to the requirements of Part II above, the occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard and any person engaged in the movement of animals which are delivered other than in a container shall ensure that—

(a) care is taken not to frighten, excite or mistreat any animal;

(b) no animal is overturned;

(c) if any animal is not slaughtered or killed immediately on arrival at the slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard, it is lairaged; and

(d) no animal is taken to the place of slaughter or killing unless it can be slaughtered or killed without delay.

The lifting or dragging of animals

7.  No person shall lift or drag, or cause or permit to be lifted or dragged, any animal by the head, horns, ears, feet, tail, fleece or any other part of its body in such a way as to cause it unnecessary pain or suffering.

The driving of animals

8.  No person shall, in any slaughterhouse, knacker’s yard or lairage, lead or drive, or cause or permit to be led or driven, any animal over any ground or floor the nature or condition of which is likely to cause the animal to slip or fall.

Moving animals with care

9.  The occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard and any person engaged in the movement of any animals shall ensure that every animal is moved with care and, when necessary, that animals are led individually.

Instruments for guiding animals

10.  The occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard and any person engaged in the movement of any animal shall ensure that any instrument intended for guiding any animal is used solely for that purpose and only for short periods on individual animals.

Instruments to make animals move

11.  No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, to make any animal move any instrument which administers an electric shock, except that such an instrument which has been designed for the purpose of making an animal move may be used on adult bovine animals and adult pigs which refuse to move, provided that—

(a) the shocks last no more than two seconds each and are adequately spaced out;

(b) the animal has room ahead of it in which to move; and

(c) such shocks are applied only to the muscles of the hindquarters.

Treatment of animals

12.—(1) No person shall strike, or apply pressure to, any particularly sensitive part of the body of any animal.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraph (1) above, no person shall crush, twist or break the tail of any animal or grasp the eyes of any animal.

(3) No person shall inflict any blow or kick to any animal.

(4) No person shall cause or permit any animal to be treated in contravention of sub-paragraph (1), (2) or (3) above.

Lairaging of animals

13.  The occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard and any person engaged in the lairaging of any animal shall ensure that—

(a) an adequate supply of suitable bedding material is provided for all animals kept in the lairage overnight, unless the lairage has a slatted or mesh floor;

(b) any animal which is kept in a lairage has drinking water available to it from appropriate facilities at all times;

(c) a sufficient quantity of wholesome food is provided for an animal on its arrival at the lairage and twice daily thereafter, except that no animal need be fed within 12 hours of the time at which it is slaughtered or killed;

(d) food is provided in a way which will permit the animals to feed without unnecessary disturbance;

(e) any animal which is lairaged untethered is able to lie down, stand up and turn round without difficulty; and

(f) any animal which is lairaged tethered is able to lie down and stand up without difficulty.

PART IV ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ANIMALS DELIVERED IN CONTAINERS

Handling of animals delivered in containers

14.  In addition to the requirements in Part II above, the occupier of a slaughterhouse and any person engaged in the movement of any animal delivered in any container shall ensure that—

(a) any container in which any such animal is transported is handled with care and is not thrown, dropped or knocked over;

(b) where possible, the container is loaded and unloaded horizontally and mechanically;

(c) any animal delivered in a container with a perforated or flexible bottom is unloaded with particular care in order to avoid injury; and

(d) where appropriate, animals are unloaded from the containers individually.

Slaughter or killing of animals delivered in containers

15.  The occupier of a slaughterhouse and any person engaged in the movement or handling of any animal shall ensure that—

(a) any animal which has been transported in a container is slaughtered or killed as soon as possible; and

(b) if slaughter or killing is delayed and if it is necessary—

(i) the animal has drinking water available to it from appropriate facilities at all times; and

(ii) a sufficient quantity of wholesome food is provided for the animal on its arrival at the lairage and twice daily thereafter, except that no animal need be fed within 12 hours of the time at which it is slaughtered or killed.

PART V ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BIRDS

Birds awaiting slaughter or killing at place of purchase

16.  The occupier or person in charge of any premises at which birds are offered or exposed for sale prior to being slaughtered or killed there shall ensure that, on arrival at the premises, the birds are forthwith—

(a) placed in accommodation in which they are able, without difficulty, to stand upright, turn around and stretch their wings; and

(b) provided with a sufficient supply of wholesome food and clean drinking water.