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

3.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), any person engaged in the bleeding of any animal that has been stunned shall ensure that—

(a) the bleeding is rapid, profuse and complete;

(b) the bleeding is completed before the animal regains consciousness; and

(c) the bleeding is carried out by severing at least one of the carotid arteries or the vessels from which they arise.

(2) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), after severance of at least one of the carotid arteries or the vessels from which they arise of any animal that has been stunned before bleeding, no person shall cause or permit any further dressing procedure or any electrical stimulation to be performed on the animal before the bleeding has ended and in any event not before the expiry of—

(a) in the case of a turkey or goose, a period of not less than 2 minutes;

(b) in the case of any other bird, a period of not less than 90 seconds;

(c) in the case of bovine animals, a period of not less than 30 seconds; and

(d) in the case of sheep, goats, pigs and deer, a period of not less than 20 seconds.

(3) Sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to any animal which has been pithed.