Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

Part I Requirements for all Slaughterhouses and Knackers' Yards

General requirements for all slaughterhouses and knackers' yards

1.  The occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard shall ensure that—

(a) its construction, facilities, equipment and operation are such as to spare animals any avoidable excitement, pain, injury or suffering;

(b) it has suitable equipment and facilities available for the purpose of unloading animals from means of transport;

(c) there are no sharp edges or protrusions in the slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard with which any animal may come into contact;

(d) the place of slaughter or killing is sited in such a way as to minimise handling of the animal at any time up to the point of slaughter or killing;

(e) any instrument, restraining equipment, other equipment or installation which is used for stunning, slaughter or killing is designed, constructed and maintained so as to facilitate rapid and effective stunning, slaughter or killing in accordance with these Regulations; and

(f) for emergency use, suitable spare equipment and instruments for stunning, slaughter or killing are kept at the site within the slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard where stunning, slaughter or killing takes place and—

(i) such equipment and instruments are properly maintained and thoroughly inspected regularly by the occupier or by a competent person acting on his behalf in order to ensure that there is no defect in any of them; and

(ii) any defect found at any time in such equipment or instruments is rectified forthwith.