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

Part IIIAdditional Requirements for Animals Delivered other than in Containers

Treatment of animals delivered other than in containers

6.  In addition to the requirements of Part II, the occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard and any person engaged in the movement of animals which are delivered other than in a container shall ensure that—

(a) care is taken not to frighten, excite or mistreat any animal;

(b) no animal is overturned;

(c) if any animal is not slaughtered or killed immediately on arrival at the slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard, it is lairaged; and

(d) no animal is taken to the place of slaughter or killing unless it can be slaughtered or killed without delay.

The lifting or dragging of animals

7.  No person shall lift or drag, or cause or permit to be lifted or dragged, any animal by the head, horns, ears, feet, tail, fleece or any other part of its body in such a way as to cause it unnecessary pain or suffering.

The driving of animals

8.  No person shall, in any slaughterhouse, knacker’s yard or lairage, lead or drive, or cause or permit to be led or driven, any animal over any ground or floor the nature or condition of which is likely to cause the animal to slip or fall.

Moving animals with care

9.  The occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard and any person engaged in the movement of any animals shall ensure that every animal is moved with care and, when necessary, that animals are led individually.

Instruments for guiding animals

10.  The occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard and any person engaged in the movement of any animal shall ensure that any instrument intended for guiding any animal is used solely for that purpose and only for short periods on individual animals.

Instruments to make animals move

11.  No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, to make any animal move any instrument which administers an electric shock, except that such an instrument which has been designed for the purpose of making an animal move may be used on adult bovine animals and adult pigs which refuse to move, provided that—

(a) the shocks last no more than two seconds each and are adequately spaced out;

(b) the animal has room ahead of it in which to move; and

(c) such shocks are applied only to the muscles of the hindquarters.

Treatment of animals

12.—(1) No person shall strike, or apply pressure to, any particularly sensitive part of the body of any animal.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-paragraph (1), no person shall crush, twist or break the tail of any animal or grasp the eyes of any animal.

(3) No person shall inflict any blow or kick to any animal.

(4) No person shall cause or permit any animal to be treated in contravention of sub-paragraph (1), (2) or (3).

Lairaging of animals

13.  The occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard and any person engaged in the lairaging of any animal shall ensure that—

(a) an adequate supply of suitable bedding material is provided for all animals kept in the lairage overnight, unless the lairage has a slatted or mesh floor;

(b) any animal which is kept in a lairage has drinking water available to it from appropriate facilities at all times;

(c) a sufficient quantity of wholesome food is provided for an animal on its arrival at the lairage and twice daily thereafter, except that no animal need be fed within 12 hours of the time at which it is slaughtered or killed;

(d) food is provided in a way which will permit the animals to feed without unnecessary disturbance;

(e) any animal which is lairaged untethered is able to lie down, stand up and turn round without difficulty; and

(f) any animal which is lairaged tethered is able to lie down and stand up without difficulty.