Council Directive 93/119/EC

of 22 December 1993

on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing

[F1 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 43 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission ,

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament ,

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee ,

Whereas Council Directive 74/577/EEC established rules on the stunning of animals before slaughter;

Whereas the European Convention for the Protection of Animals for Slaughter was approved on behalf of the Community by Council Decision 88/306/EEC ; whereas the scope of the Convention is wider than existing Community rules on the matter;

Whereas national laws concerning the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing have an impact on the conditions of competition and accordingly on the operation of the common market in agricultural products;

Whereas there is therefore a need to establish common minimum standards for the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing in order to ensure rational development of production and to facilitate the completion of the internal market in animals and animal products;

Whereas at the time of slaughter or killing animals should be spared any avoidable pain or suffering;

Whereas, however, it is necessary to allow for technical and scientific experiments to be carried out and to take account of the particular requirements of certain religious rites;

Whereas the rules should also ensure satisfactory protection, at the time of slaughter or killing, for animals not covered by the Convention;

Whereas in the declaration on the protection of animals annexed to the Final Act of the Treaty on European Union, the Conference calls upon the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, as well as the Member States, when drafting and implementing Community legislation on the common agricultural policy, to pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals;

Whereas in so doing Community action must comply with the requirements arising out of the principle of subsidiarity laid down in Article 3b of the Treaty;

Whereas Directive 74/577/EEC should be repealed,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE:

Textual Amendments

F1 Deleted by Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 of 24 September 2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing (Text with EEA relevance).

F1 CHAPTER I U.K. General provisions

F1 Article 1 U.K.

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F1 Article 2 U.K.

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F1 Article 3 U.K.

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F1 CHAPTER II U.K. Requirements applicable to slaughterhouses

F1 Article 4 U.K.

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F1 Article 5 U.K.

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F1 Article 6 U.K.

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F1 Article 7 U.K.

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F1 Article 8 U.K.

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F1 CHAPTER III U.K. Slaughter and killing outwith slaughterhouses

F1 Article 9 U.K.

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F1 Article 10 U.K.

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F1 Article 11 U.K.

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F1 Article 12 U.K.

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F1 CHAPTER IV U.K. Final provisions]

F1 Article 13 U.K.

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F1 Article 14 U.K.

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F1 Article 15 U.K.

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F1 Article 16 U.K.

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F1 Article 17 U.K.

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F1 Article 18 U.K.

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F1 Article 19 U.K.

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ANNEX A U.K. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MOVEMENT AND LAIRAGING OF ANIMALS IN SLAUGHTERHOUSES

I. General requirements U.K.

1. Every slaughterhouse coming into operation after 30 June 1994 must have suitable equipment and facilities available for the purpose of unloading animals from means of transport, and all existing slaughterhouses must comply with these requirements by 1 January 1996. U.K.

F1 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

F1 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

F1 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

F1 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

F1 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

II. Requirements for animals delivered other than in containers U.K.

1. Where slaughterhouses have equipment for unloading animals, such equipment must have non-slip flooring and, if necessary, be provided with lateral protection. Bridges, ramps and gangways must be fitted with sides, railings or some other means of protection to prevent animals falling off them. Exit or entry ramps must have the minimum possible incline. U.K.

F1 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

[F2 3. [F1 Animals must be moved with care.] Passageways must be so constructed as to minimise the risk of injury to animals, and so arranged as to exploit their gregarious tendencies. [F1 Instruments intended for guiding animals must be used solely for that purpose, and only for short periods. The use of instruments which administer electric shocks shall be avoided as far as possible. In any case, these instruments shall only be used for adult bovine animals and adult pigs which refuse to move, and only when they have room ahead of them in which to move. Shocks shall last no longer than one second, be adequately spaced, and shall only be applied to the muscles of the hindquarters. Shocks shall not be used repeatedly if the animal fails to respond.] ] U.K.

Textual Amendments

F2 Substituted by Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97.

F1 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

F1 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

6. Without prejudice to derogations granted pursuant to Articles 4 and 13 of Directive 64/433/EEC, slaughterhouses must be equipped with a sufficient number of pens for adequate lairaging of the animals with protection from the effects of adverse weather. U.K.

7. In addition to complying with requirements already laid down in Community rules, lairages must have: U.K.

• floors which minimize the risk of slipping and which do not cause injury to animals in contact with them,

• adequate ventilation, taking into account the extremes of temperature and humidity which may be expected. Where mechanical means of ventilation are required, provision must be made for emergency back-up facilities in the event of breakdown,

• artificial lighting at a level sufficient to permit inspection of all animals at any time; if necessary, adequate back-up lighting must be available,

• where necessary, equipment for tethering animals,

• where necessary, adequate supplies of a suitable bedding material for all animals kept in the lairage overnight.

8. Where, in addition to the lairages referred to above, slaughterhouses also have field lairages without natural shelter or shade, appropriate protection from adverse weather must be provided. Field lairages must be maintained in such condition as to ensure that animals are not subjected to physical, chemical or other health hazards. U.K.

9. Animals which are not taken directly upon arrival to the place of slaughter must have drinking water available to them from appropriate facilities at all times. [F1 Animals which have not been slaughtered within 12 hours of their arrival must be fed, and must subsequently be given moderate amounts of food at appropriate intervals.] U.K.

F1 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

F1 III. Requirements for animals delivered in containers U.K.

F1 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

F1 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

F1 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

F1 ANNEX B U.K. [F1 RESTRAINT OF ANIMALS BEFORE STUNNING, SLAUGHTER OR KILLING]

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ANNEX C U.K. STUNNING OR KILLING OF ANIMALS OTHER THAN ANIMALS REARED FOR FUR

F1 I. PERMITTED METHODS U.K.

F1 A. Stunning U.K.

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F1 B. Killing U.K.

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F1 C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

II. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR STUNNING U.K.

[ F1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .]

F1 1. Captive bolt pistol U.K.

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F1 2. Concussion U.K.

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3. Electronarcosis U.K.

A. Electrodes U.K.

F1 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

2. Where animals are stunned individually, the apparatus must: U.K.

(a)

incorporate a device which measures the impedance of the load and prevents operation of the apparatus if the minimum required current cannot be passed;

(b)

incorporate an audible or visible device indicating the length of time of its application to an animal;

(c)

be connected to a device indicating the voltage and the current under load, positioned so as to be clearly visible to the operator.

B. Waterbath stunners U.K.

1. Where waterbath stunners are used to stun poultry, the level of the water must be adjustable in order to ensure that there is good contact with the bird's head. U.K.

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2. Where poultry are stunned in groups in a waterbath, a voltage sufficient to produce a current strong enough to ensure that every bird is stunned must be maintained. U.K.

F1 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

4. Waterbaths for poultry must be adequate in size and depth for the type of bird being slaughtered, and must not overflow at the entrance. The electrode which is immersed in the water must extend the length of the waterbath. U.K.

F1 5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

4. Exposure to carbon dioxide U.K.

F1 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

2. The chamber in which pigs are exposed to the gas, and the equipment used for conveying the pigs through it, must be so designed, constructed and maintained as to avoid injury to the pigs and compression of the chest and enable them to remain upright until they lose consciousness. Adequate lighting must be provided in the conveying mechanism and the chamber to allow pigs to see other pigs or their surroundings. U.K.

3. The chamber must be fitted with devices for measuring the gas concentration at the point of maximum exposure and for giving a clearly visible and audible warning if the concentration of carbon dioxide falls below the required level. U.K.

F1 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . U.K.

F1 III. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR KILLING U.K.

F1 1. Free bullet pistol or rifle U.K.

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F1 2. Decapitation and dislocation of the neck U.K.

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F1 3. Electrocution and carbon dioxide U.K.

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F1 4. Vacuum chamber U.K.

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F1 ANNEX D U.K. [F1 BLEEDING OF ANIMALS

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F1 ANNEX E U.K. KILLING METHODS FOR DISEASE CONTROL

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F1 ANNEX F U.K. METHODS OF KILLING FUR ANIMALS

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F1 ANNEX G U.K. KILLING OF SURPLUS CHICKS AND EMBRYOS IN HATCHERY WASTE]

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