The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995

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.