Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Act 1980
1980 CHAPTER 13
An Act to consolidate certain enactments relating to slaughterhouses, knackers’ yards and the slaughter of animals in Scotland.
[20th March 1980]

1 Power of local authorities to provide public slaughterhouses.
Subject to section 3 of this Act, a local authority may provide and, if they think fit, operate a slaughterhouse and may dispose of any slaughterhouse belonging to them by ... sale, lease or excambion; and any slaughterhouse so disposed of shall be deemed to be disposed of under Part VI of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.
Words in s. 1 substituted (11.09.1996) by S.I. 1996/2235, art. 9(1)
Word in s. 1 repealed (28.11.2004) by Abolition of Feudal Tenure etc. (Scotland) Act 2000 (asp 5), ss. 71, 77(2), Sch. 13 Pts. 1 (with ss. 58, 62, 75); S.S.I. 2003/456, art. 2
1973 c. 65.

2 Acquisition of land for purposes relating to slaughterhouses.
(1) A local authority may be authorised by the Secretary of State to purchase compulsorily any land, whether situated within or outside its area, for the purpose of any of their functions under section 1, or 3 of this Act.
Words in s. 2(1) substituted (11.09.1996) by S.I. 1996/2235, art. 9(2)
(2) In relation to the compulsory purchase of land under this section, the Acquisition of Land (Authorisation Procedure) (Scotland) Act 1947 shall apply as if subsection (1) above had been in force immediately before the commencement of that Act.
1947 c. 42.

3 Management of public slaughterhouses.
(1) A local authority by whom a slaughterhouse has been provided under section 1 of this Act or under any other enactment—
(a) may make charges in respect of the use of the slaughterhouse and in respect of any services provided by them in connection therewith; and
(b) may provide plant or apparatus for disposing of or treating waste matter or refuse, or processing by-products resulting from the slaughter of animals in such a slaughterhouse.
(2) In fixing or varying any such charges as aforesaid a local authority shall consult with such persons or organisations as appear to them to be representative of interests substantially affected by such charges.

4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 4 repealed (11.09.1996) by S.I. 1996/2235, arts. 6, 11, Sch

5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 5 repealed (11.09.1996) by S.I. 1996/2235, art. 11, Sch

6 Licensing of knackers’ yards.
(1) A person carrying on the business of slaughterman or knacker shall not use any premises as a knacker’s yard without a licence from the local authority; and if he does he shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale and the fact that animals (other than asses or mules) have been taken into unlicensed premises shall beprima facieevidence that an offence under this section has been committed.
Words substituted by virtue of Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c. 21, SIF 39:1), s. 289G
(2) A licence under this section shall expire on such day in every year as the local authority fix and when a licence is first granted shall expire on the day so fixed which secondly occurs after the grant of the licence; and a fee not exceeding twenty-five pence may be charged for the licence or any renewal thereof.
(3) On receiving an application for the grant or renewal of a licence under this section, the local authority must publish notice of the application in one or more newspapers circulating in that local authority’s area specifying—
(a) the address of the premises to which the application relates;
(b) the period, being a period of not less than 21 days beginning with the day on which the notice is published, before the end of which any person may object to the grant or renewal of the licence; and
(c) that any objections are to be made in writing to the local authority and, in the case of an application for renewal of a licence, are to be served on the applicant in accordance with subsection (4).
S. 6(3) substituted (1.10.2009) by Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Commencement No. 2, Savings and Consequential Provisions) Order 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/319), art. 2, Sch. 2 para. 3(a)
(4) An objection shall not be entertained to the renewal of a licence under this section unless seven days previous notice of the objection has been served on the applicant:
Provided that, on an objection being made of which notice has not been given, the local authority may, if they think it just to do so, direct notice thereof to be served on the applicant, adjourn the question of the renewal to a future date, require the attendance of the applicant on that day, then hear the case and consider the objection as if the said notice had been duly given.
(5) For the purposes of this section a licence shall be deemed to be renewed where a further licence is granted in immediate succession to a prior licence for the same premises.
(6) Where any person has been refused a renewal of a licence under this section, such person may appeal to the Secretary of State against such refusal; and the decision of the Secretary of State shall be final.

7 Further provisions in relation to registration in respect of slaughterhouses and to licensing of knackers’ yards.
(1) In relation to the use of any premises for or in connection with the slaughter of horses—
(a) a licence granted under section 6 of this Act;
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 7(1)(b)(2)(b) repealed (11.09.1996) by S.I. 1996/2235, art. 11, Sch
shall be of no effect unless expressly authorising the use of the premises for that purpose.
(2) Where any premises used or to be used for the confinement of animals awaiting slaughter in a . . . knacker’s yard are situated outside the curtilage of the premises used or to be used for the slaughter—
(a) separate licences may be granted under the said section 6; . . .
(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
authorising the use of those premises for those purposes respectively.
Words repealed in s. 7(2) (11.09.1996) by S.I. 1996/2235, art. 11, Sch
(3) A licence under the said section 6 shall not be granted in respect of any premises unless the local authority are satisfied that the requirements of any regulations in force . . . with respect to the construction, lay-out and equipment of premises are complied with or will be complied with before the date on which the licence or renewed licence comes into force in respect of those premises; but nothing in this subsection shall be taken as affecting so much of the said section 6 as confers a right of appeal on a person aggrieved by the refusal of a local authority to renew a licence under that section.
Words in s. 7(3) repealed (1.4.1995) by S.I. 1995/731, reg. 28(1), Sch. 13

8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 8 repealed (11.09.1996) by S.I. 1996/2235, arts. 7, 11, Sch

9 Securing humane conditions in slaughterhouses and knackers’ yards.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 9 repealed (1.1.2013) by The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Scotland) Regulations 2012 (S.S.I. 2012/321), reg. 1(b), Sch. 5 Pt. 1

10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 10 repealed (1.4.1995) by S.I. 1995/731, reg. 28(1), Sch. 13

11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 11 repealed (1.4.1995) by S.I. 1995/731, reg. 28(1), Sch. 13

12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 12 repealed (1.4.1995) by S.I. 1995/731, reg. 28(1), Sch. 13

13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 13 repealed (11.09.1996) by S.I. 1996/2235, art. 11, Sch

14 Further powers of entry.
(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 14(1)-(3) repealed (1.1.2013) by The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Scotland) Regulations 2012 (S.S.I. 2012/321), reg. 1(b), Sch. 5 Pt. 1
(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(4) The local authority shall have a right to enter any knacker’s yard at any hour between nine o’clock in the morning and six o’clock in the evening, or at any hour when business is in progress or is usually carried on therein, for the purpose of examining whether there is any contravention of—
(i) section 6 of this Act;
(ii) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 14(4)(ii)(iii) omitted (1.10.2009) by virtue of Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Commencement No. 2, Savings and Consequential Provisions) Order 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/319), art. 2, Sch. 2 para. 3(b)
(iii) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 15 repealed (1.4.1995) by 1995/731, reg. 28(1), Sch. 13

16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 16 repealed (1.4.1995) by S.I. 1995/731, reg. 28(1), Sch. 13

17 Employment of slaughtermen by local authority.
Any local authority who have provided or established a slaughterhouse may, if they think fit, employ persons to slaughter or stun animals . . . and may make such charges as they consider reasonable for the services of the persons so employed.
Words in s. 17 repealed (1.4.1995) by S.I. 1995/731, reg. 28(1), Sch. 13

18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 18 repealed (1.4.1995) by S.I. 1995/731, reg. 28(1), Sch. 13

19 Enforcement.
(1) It shall be the duty of every local authority to execute and enforce within their area the provisions of—section 7of this Act; but this subsection shall not be construed as authorising a local authority to institute proceedings for any offence.
Words in s. 19(1) substituted (1.1.2013) by The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Scotland) Regulations 2012 (S.S.I. 2012/321) , reg. 1(b) , Sch. 4 para. 1(a)
(1A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 19(1A)(1B) repealed (1.1.2013) by The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Scotland) Regulations 2012 (S.S.I. 2012/321) , reg. 1(b) , Sch. 5 Pt. 1
(1B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
(2) For the purposes of any regulations made under section 16 of the Food Safety Act 1990 (regulations as to food hygiene) in respect of any premises to which the provisions mentioned in subsection (1)(i) above apply, the provisions of section 32 of the said Act of 1990 (power to enter premises) shall apply in relation to an authorised officer of the Secretary of State as they apply in relation to an authorised officer of the local authority who are empowered to enforce those regulations so far as they apply to such premises.
Words substituted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2) , s. 59(1) , Sch. 3 para. 23

19A Codes of practice.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 19A repealed (1.1.2013) by The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Scotland) Regulations 2012 (S.S.I. 2012/321), reg. 1(b), Sch. 5 Pt. 1

20 Regulations.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
S. 20 repealed (1.1.2013) by The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Scotland) Regulations 2012 (S.S.I. 2012/321), reg. 1(b), Sch. 5 Pt. 1

21 Defraying of certain expenses.
A local authority owning a slaughterhouse may, if they so determine, defray out of the funds from which such slaughterhouse is maintained any expenses incurred by them in the exercise of their powers under section .... . . 17 of this Act.
Word in s. 21 omitted (1.1.2013) by virtue of The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Scotland) Regulations 2012 (S.S.I. 2012/321), reg. 1(b), Sch. 4 para. 1(b)
Words in s. 21 repealed (1.4.1995) by S.I. 1995/731, reg. 28(1), Sch. 13

22 Interpretation.
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
“animal” means any description of cattle, sheep, goat, swine or horse;
“constable” has the same meaning as in the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012;
“enactment” includes an enactment contained in a local Act and any order, regulation or other instrument having effect by virtue of an Act;
“grant”, in relation to a licence, includes renew or, as the case may be, renewal;
“horse” includes ass and mule;
“ knacker’s yard ” means any premises used in connection with the business of slaughtering, flaying or cutting up animals the flesh of which is not intended for human consumption; and “ knacker ” means a person whose business it is to carry out such slaughtering, flaying or cutting up
“local authority” means a council constituted under section 2 of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994;
“premises”, except in section 6, means a building or any part thereof and any forecourts, yards and places of storage used in connection therewith; and in section 6 extends to any facilities for moving animals and any stall, pen, covered area or field used by the knacker’s yard in order to confine an animal until it is killed or to give it any necessary attention before it is killed;
“ slaughterhouse ” means a place for slaughtering animals, the flesh of which is intended for sale for human consumption, and includes any place available in connection with such a place for the confinement of animals while awaiting slaughter there or keeping , or subjecting to any treatment or process, products of the slaughtering of animals there; and “ slaughterman ” means a person whose business it is to carry out such slaughtering
Words in s. 22 substituted (1.4.2013) by Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 (asp 8), s. 129(2), Sch. 7 para. 4; S.S.I. 2013/51, art. 2 (with transitional provisions and savings in S.S.I. 2013/121)
Definition substituted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), s. 59(1), Sch. 3 para. 24(a)
Words in s. 22 substituted (1.4.1996) by 1994 c. 39, s. 180(1), Sch. 13, para. 117(with s. 128(8))
Words in s. 22 substituted (1.10.2009) by Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (Commencement No. 2, Savings and Consequential Provisions) Order 2009 (S.S.I. 2009/319), art. 2, Sch. 2 para. 3(c)
In s. 22: definition of "slaughterhouse" applied (25.9.1991) by Agriculture and Forestry (Financial Provisions) Act 1991 (c. 33, SIF 2:2), ss. 2(11), 5(2)
Definition substituted by Food Safety Act 1990 (c. 16, SIF 53:1, 2), s. 59(1), Sch. 3 para. 24(b)
Words in s. 22 inserted (11.09.1996) by S.I. 1996/2235, art. 8

23 Consequential amendments.
The enactments specified in Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect subject to the amendments there specified, being amendments consequential upon the provisions of this Act.

24 Transitional provisions, savings and repeals.
(1) The transitional provisions and savings contained in Schedule 2 to this Act shall have effect.
(2) Subject to the provisions of the said Schedule 2, the enactments specified in Schedule 3 to this Act are hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of the said Schedule 3.
(3) Nothing in this Act shall be taken as prejudicing the operation of sections 16 and 17 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (which relate to the effect of repeals).
1978 c. 30.

25 Citation and extent.
(1) This Act may be cited as the Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Act 1980.
(2) This Act extends to Scotland only.

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1 Consequential Amendments of Enactments
Section 23.
1 —In section 12(4) of the Foods and Drugs (Scotland) Act 1956, for paragraph (a) there shall be substituted the following paragraph—

“(a) in subsection (1) the expression— “animal” means cattle, sheep, goats, swine and horses; and in this definition “horses” includes asses and mules; “slaughterhouse” means any premises used for slaughtering animals the flesh of which is intended for sale for human consumption and includes any place other than premises used in connection therewith ; and”.

1956 c. 30.
2 —In section 25(6) of the Agriculture Act 1957, for the words “Part II of the Slaughterhouses Act, 1954,” there shall be substituted the words “ section 1 of the Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Act 1980. ”.
1957 c.57.
3 —In section 10(1) of the Firearms Act 1968, for the words “section 2 of the Slaughter of Animals Act 1928” there shall be substituted the words “ section 15 of the Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Act 1980 ”.
1968 c.27.

SCHEDULE 2 Transitional Provisions and Savings.
Section 24(1).
1 (1) Without prejudice to section 8(4) of this Act and subject to paragraph 4 of this Schedule, in so far as anything done or having effect as if done under or in pursuance of any of the enactments repealed by this Act (in this Schedule referred to as “the repealed enactments”) could have been done under or in pursuance of a corresponding provision of this Act, it shall not be invalidated by reason only of the repeal but shall have effect as if done under or in pursuance of that provision; and anything begun under any of the repealed enactments may be continued under the corresponding provision of this Act as if begun under that provision.
(2) Subparagraph (1) above applies in particular to any regulation, byelaw, determination, decision, authorisation, application, licence, renewal, suspension, revocation, notice, purchase, disposal, charge, certificate, prohibition, registration, refusal, cancellation, variation, appeal, objection, advertisement, specification, condition or penalty prescribed, responsibility imposed or warrant granted.
2 Without prejudice to any express amendment made by this Act, where any enactment or document refers, either expressly or by implication, to any of the repealed enactments, the reference shall, except where the context otherwise requires, be construed as, or as including, a reference to the corresponding provision of this Act.
3 Where any period of time specified in any of the repealed enactments is current at the commencement of this Act, this Act shall have effect as if the corresponding provision of this Act had been in force when that period began to run.
4 (1) Nothing in this Act shall affect the repealed enactments in their operation in relation to offences committed before the commencement of this Act.
(2) Where an offence, for the continuance of which a penalty was provided, has been committed under any of the repealed enactments proceedings may, in the same manner as if the offence had been committed under the corresponding provision of this Act, be taken under this Act in respect of the continuance, after the commencement of this Act, of the offence.
5 Without prejudice to paragraph 1 or 4 above, any reference in this Act (whether express or implied) to a thing done or required or authorised to be done, or omitted to be done, or to any event which has occurred, under or for the purposes of or by reference to or in contravention of any of the provisions of this Act shall, except where the context otherwise requires, be construed as including a reference to the corresponding thing done or required or authorised to be done, or omitted, or to the corresponding event which occurred as the case may be, under or for the purposes of or by reference to or in contravention of the corresponding provisions of the repealed enactments and of the enactments repealed by those enactments.

SCHEDULE 3 Repeals
Section 24(2).
Chapter	Short Title	Extent of Repeal
...	...	...
18 & 19 Geo.5. c.29	The Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Act 1928.	The whole Act
1 & 2 Eliz. 2. c.27	The Slaughter of Animals (Pigs) Act 1953.	The whole Act
2 & 3 Eliz. 2. c.42	The Slaughterhouses Act 1954	The whole Act
2 & 3 Eliz. 2. c.59	The Slaughter of Animals (Amendment) Act 1954.	The whole Act
1972 c.62.	The Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1972.	Sections 6 and 7. Schedules 1 and 2.
Words in Sch. 3 repealed (1.10.2009) by Public Health etc. (Scotland) Act 2008 (asp 5), s. 128(2), Sch. 3 Pt. 1 (with s. 127); S.S.I. 2009/319, art. 2(a), Sch. 1

Act wholly in force at Royal Assent
S. 9 power to transfer functions conferred (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 40, s. 31, Sch. 9, paras. 3(1)(a), 4
S. 10 power to transfer functions conferred (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 40, s. 31, Sch. 9, paras. 3(1)(b), 4
S. 15 power to tranfer functions conferred (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 40, s. 31, Sch. 9, paras. 3(1)(d), 4
S. 16 power to transfer of functions conferred (3.1.1995) by 1994 c. 40, s. 31, Sch. 9, paras. 3(1)(e), 4
S. 19 power to transfer functions conferred (3.1.1995) 1994 c. 40 , s. 31 , Sch. 9 , paras. 3(1)(f) , 4
The text of s. 23 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.
The text of Sch. 1 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.
The text of Sch. 3 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.