The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995

Permitted methods of slaughtering or killing animals for the purpose of disease control

2.  No person shall slaughter or kill any animal for the purpose of disease control, or cause or permit any animal to be slaughtered or killed for that purpose, except by one of the following methods—

(a) free bullet;

(b) electrocution;

(c) exposure to carbon dioxide or to a lethal concentration of other gases or gas mixtures;

(d) for rabbits and birds, dislocation of the neck;

(e) captive bolt, provided that—

(i) the animal is either pithed or the blood vessels in its neck are severed without delay afterwards and in any event before the animal regains consciousness; and

(ii) apart from the requirements in (i) above, nothing more is done to the animal before it has been ascertained that the animal is dead; or

(f) lethal injection of—

(i) a drug with anaesthetic properties which causes rapid loss of consciousness followed by death; or

(ii) any other compound if preceded by the induction of anaesthesia.