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

Specific requirements for killing mink by exposure to carbon monoxide

5.  No person shall kill, or cause or permit to be killed, any mink by exposure to carbon monoxide unless—

(a) the chamber in which the mink is exposed to the gas is designed, constructed and maintained in such a way as to—

(i) avoid injury to the mink; and

(ii) allow the mink to be supervised;

(b) the mink is introduced into the chamber only after the chamber has been filled with a concentration of carbon monoxide of at least 1% by volume, supplied by a source of 100% carbon monoxide;

(c) gas produced by an engine specially adapted for that purpose is used only if—

(i) the gas used has been suitably cooled and sufficiently filtered and is free from any irritant matter or irritant gas; and

(ii) no mink is placed in the chamber until the concentration of carbon monoxide has reached at least 1% by volume;

(d) the gas induces deep general anaesthesia when inhaled and then causes certain death; and

(e) the mink remains in the chamber until it is dead.