The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014

PART 3 HANDLING OPERATIONS

General requirements

10.  The business operator and any person engaged in the movement or lairaging of animals shall ensure that—

(a) every animal is unloaded as soon as possible after its arrival and, if delay in unloading is unavoidable, it is protected from adverse weather conditions and is provided with adequate ventilation;

(b) when unloaded, every animal is protected from adverse weather conditions and is provided with adequate ventilation;

(c) if an animal has been subjected to high temperatures in humid weather, it is cooled by appropriate means;

(d) any animals which might injure each other on account of their species, sex, age or origin or for any other reason are kept and lairaged apart from each other;

(e) pending the slaughter or killing of a sick or disabled animal it is kept apart from any animal which is not sick or disabled; and

(f) no person drags an animal which has been stunned or killed over any other animal which has not been stunned or killed.

Inspection of animals

11.  The business operator shall ensure that the condition and state of health of every animal is inspected at least every morning and evening by the business operator or by a competent person acting on the business operator’s behalf.

Animals which have experienced pain or suffering and unweaned animals

12.  Without prejudice to paragraph 1.5 and 1.11 of Annex III, the business operator and any person engaged in the movement or lairaging of animals shall ensure that the following animals are killed immediately—

(a) animals which have experienced pain or suffering during transport or following arrival; and

(b) animals which are too young to take solid feed.

Animals delivered other than in containers

13.  The business operator and any person engaged in the movement or lairaging of animals which are delivered other than in a container shall ensure that—

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

(b) no animal is overturned; and

(c) no animal is taken to the place of killing unless it can be killed without delay.

The driving of animals

14.  No person may lead or drive an animal over ground or floor, the nature or condition of which is likely to cause the animal to slip or fall.

Moving animals with care

15.  The business operator and any person engaged in the movement of animals shall ensure that every animal is moved with care and, when necessary, that animals are led individually.

Instruments for guiding animals

16.  The business operator and any person engaged in the movement of animals shall ensure that any instrument intended for guiding an animal is used solely for that purpose and only for short periods on individual animals.

Lairaging of animals

17.  The business operator and any person engaged in the lairaging of animals shall ensure that food is provided in a way which will permit the animals to feed without unnecessary disturbance.