Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009Show full title

CHAPTER II Specific requirements for certain methods

1. Non-penetrative captive bolt device

When using this method business operators shall pay attention to avoid the fracture of the skull.

This method shall only be used for ruminants of less than 10 kg of live weight.

2. Maceration

This method shall provide instantaneous maceration and immediate death of the animals. The apparatus shall contain rapidly rotating mechanically operated killing blades or expanded polystyrene projections. The capacity of the apparatus shall be sufficient to ensure that all animals are killed instantaneously, even if they are handled in a large number.

3. Cervical dislocation and percussive blow to the head

These methods shall not be used as routine methods but only where there are no other methods available for stunning.

These methods shall not be used in slaughterhouses except as a back-up method for stunning.

No person shall kill by manual cervical dislocation or percussive blow to the head more than seventy animals per day.

Manual cervical dislocation shall not be used on animals of more than three kg live weight.

4. Head-only electrical stunning

4.1. When using head-only electrical stunning, electrodes shall span the brain of the animal and be adapted to its size.

4.2. Head-only electrical stunning shall be carried out in accordance with the minimum currents set out in Table 1.

Table 1 —

Minimum currents for head-only electrical stunning

Category of animals	Bovine animals of 6 months or older	Bovine animals less than 6 months	Animals of ovine and caprine species	Animals of porcine species	Chicken	Turkeys
Minimum current	1,28 A	1,25 A	1,0 A	1,3 A	240 mA	400 mA

5. Head-to-body electrical stunning

5.1. Animals of the ovine, caprine and porcine species.

The minimum currents for head-to-body electrical stunning shall be 1 ampere for sheep and goats and 1,30 amperes for pigs.

5.2. Foxes

Electrodes shall be applied to the mouth and rectum with a current of a minimum value of 0,3 amperes and a minimum voltage of 110 volts for at least three seconds.

5.3. Chinchillas

Electrodes shall be applied ear to tail with a current of a minimum value of 0,57 amperes for at least 60 seconds.

6. Electrical waterbath stunning of poultry

6.1. Animals shall not be shackled if they are too small for the waterbath stunner or if shackling is likely to induce or increase the pain suffered (such as visibly injured animals). In these cases, they shall be killed by an alternative method.

6.2. Shackles shall be wet before live birds are shackled and exposed to the current. Birds shall be hung by both legs.

6.3. For animals referred to in Table 2, waterbath stunning shall be carried out in accordance with the minimum currents laid down therein, and animals shall be exposed to that current for a minimum duration of at least four seconds.

Table 2 —

Electrical requirements for waterbath stunning equipment

(average values per animal)

Frequency (Hz)	Chickens	Turkeys	Ducks and geese	Quails
< 200 Hz	100 mA	250 mA	130 mA	45 mA
From 200 to 400 Hz	150 mA	400 mA	Not permitted	Not permitted
From 400 to 1 500 Hz	200 mA	400 mA	Not permitted	Not permitted

7. Carbon dioxide at high concentration

In the case of pigs, mustelids and chinchillas, the minimum concentration of 80 % of carbon dioxide shall be used.

8. Carbon dioxide, use of inert gases or a combination of those gas mixtures

Under no circumstances shall gases enter into the chamber or the location where animals are to be stunned and killed in a way that it could create burns or excitement by freezing or lack of humidity.

9. Carbon monoxide (pure source or associated with other gases)

9.1. Animals shall be kept under visual supervision at all times.

9.2. They shall be introduced one by one, and it shall be ensured that before the next animal is introduced the previous one is unconscious or dead.

9.3. Animals shall remain in the chamber until they are dead.

9.4. Gas produced by an engine specially adapted for the purpose of killing of animals may be used provided that the person responsible for killing has previously verified that the gas used:

(a)

has been suitably cooled;

(b)

has been sufficiently filtered;

(c)

is free from any irritant component or gas.

The engine shall be tested every year before the killing of animals takes place.

9.5. Animals shall not be placed in the chamber until the minimum concentration of carbon monoxide has been reached.