Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1734 of 16 July 2026 amending Annex I to Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing as regards the authorisation of non-penetrative captive bolt stunning and nitrogen high expansion foam stunning

Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1734 · Regulation · 3 articles

Data as of 2026-08-06 · Compiled from an official source version. Later amendments or repeals may not be reflected; the official text prevails. · Read the official text ↗

Article 1

Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union .

Supplementary provisions

ANNEXSupplementary provisions

ANNEX Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 is amended as follows: 1. Chapter I is amended as follows: (a) in Table I, row 2 is replaced by the following: No Name Description Conditions of use Key parameters Specific requirements of Chapter II of this Annex ‘2 Non-penetrative captive bolt device Severe damage of the brain by the shock of a captive bolt without penetration. Killing of piglets up to 5 kg live weight, and of lambs and kid goats up to 4,5 kg live weight. Simple stunning of: — piglets between 5 kg and 10 kg, — ruminants up to 10 kg except lambs and kid goats up to 4,5 kg, — poultry, — rabbits — hares. Ruminants up to 10 kg live weight. Piglets up to 10 kg live weight. Poultry, rabbits and hares. Slaughter, depopulation and other situations. Position and direction of the shot. Appropriate velocity, kinetic energy, diameter and shape of bolt according to animal size and species. Strength of the cartridge used. Maximum stun to stick or kill interval(s). Point 1.’ (b) in Table 3, the following row is added: No Name Description Conditions of use Key parameters Specific requirements of Chapter II of this Annex ‘8 Nitrogen high expansion foam Direct exposure of conscious animals in purpose-built containers to high expansion foam as a vehicle to carry nitrogen leading to anoxia by the reduction in available oxygen to less than 2 %. Pigs of 15 to 41 kg live weight, laying hens and broiler chickens. Other situations than slaughter. Oxygen concentration. Duration of exposure. Foam expansion ratio. Diameter of the bubbles and foam homogeneity. Foam production rate. Distribution of the foam. Stocking density. Water temperature and nitrogen vaporisation. Foaming agent. Visibility of animals. Quality (softness or hardness) of the water. Point 11’ 2. Chapter II is amended as follows: (a) point 1 is replaced by the following: ‘1. Non-penetrative captive bolt device When using this method in ruminants, business operators shall pay attention to avoid fracturing the skull. In piglets, the device shall be applied with a single impact on the midline of the frontal-parietal bone. The body of the piglet shall be restrained, and the head shall rest on a hard surface. In neonatal lambs and goat kids, the muzzle of the device shall be applied with a single impact on the midline behind the poll (that is to say, between the ears) with the chin tucked into the neck’. (b) the following point 11 is added: ‘11. Nitrogen high expansion foam The residual oxygen concentration shall be continuously monitored and be less than 2 % by volume until the animals are dead; the exposure time shall be at least 5 minutes for poultry and 7 minutes for pigs. The foam expansion ratio shall be maintained at 1:> 250. The diameter of the bubbles in 95 % of the foam shall be at least 10 millimetres and foam homogeneity shall be maintained. The foam production rate shall be adequate to fill the container in less than 60 seconds. The foam distribution within the container shall be uniform and without air pockets. The stocking density within the container shall be adequate to establish uniform and simultaneous exposure of the animals to the anoxia. The temperature of water supply shall be lukewarm, and the nitrogen shall be fully vapourised prior to reaching the foam generator. The foaming agent shall not be harmful to the animals. The foam shall be transparent, and observation of the animals shall not be obscured.’.

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Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.

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