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Regulation 21

SCHEDULE 4KILLING ANIMALS OTHER THAN THOSE TO WHICH THE EU REGULATION APPLIES

Interpretation

1.  In this Schedule—

(a)“animal” means—

(i)reptiles and amphibians;

(ii)invertebrate animals; or

(iii)poultry, rabbits or hares killed elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse by their owner for the owner’s private domestic consumption; and

(b)“killing”, “poultry”, “restraint” and “stunning” have the same meanings as in the EU Regulation.

Scope

2.  Subject to paragraph 3, this Schedule applies to the killing of animals which are bred or kept for the production of meat, skin or other products.

Exemptions

3.  This Schedule does not apply to animals which are killed—

(a)during scientific experiments carried out under the supervision of the competent authority;

(b)during hunting or recreational fishing activities; or

(c)during sporting events.

Humane killing

4.—(1) No person engaged in the restraint, stunning or killing of an animal may—

(a)cause any avoidable pain, distress or suffering to that animal; or

(b)permit that animal to sustain any avoidable pain, distress or suffering.

(2) No person may engage in the restraint, stunning or killing of an animal unless that person has the knowledge and skill necessary to perform those operations humanely and efficiently.

Poultry, rabbits or hares bled for private domestic consumption

5.  Poultry, rabbits or hares which are bled by their owner outside a slaughterhouse for the owner’s private domestic consumption shall be—

(a)stunned before bleeding in accordance with the methods and specific requirements in Chapters I and II of Annex I and, where appropriate, Part 5 of Schedule 2; and

(b)bled after stunning without delay.