The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995

• Citation: S.I. 1995/731
• Sections: 164

Section 1 Title, commencement and extent

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 and shall come into force on 1st April 1995.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3) below, these Regulations extend to Great Britain.

(3) Paragraph 2(3) and (4) of Schedule 6 extends to England and Wales.

Section 2 Interpretation

(1) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—

“the Agency” means the Food Standards Scotland ;

“animal” includes bird;

“adverse weather condition” means any weather condition, including direct sunlight, which has an adverse affect on the welfare of an animal;

“authorised person” means any person authorised in writing by the Minister for the purposes of these Regulations;

“commercial”, in relation to the slaughter or killing of an animal, means slaughter or killing—

in the course or furtherance of a business or for reward;

by, or on behalf of, the purchaser of an animal on premises belonging to, occupied by or under the control of the seller of the animal; or

in a market place;

“container” means any transport crate in which an animal is delivered to a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard;

“contravention”, in relation to any provision of these Regulations, includes a failure to comply with that provision, and “contravenes” shall be construed accordingly;

“horse” includes any hinny, ass or mule;

“killing”, in relation to an animal, means causing the death of the animal by any process other than slaughter;

“knacker’s yard” means any premises used for the commercial slaughter or killing of solipeds, ruminants, pigs, rabbits or birds, the flesh of which is not intended for human consumption, including any associated facilities for moving or lairaging such animals;

“lairaging”, in relation to an animal, means keeping the animal in a stall, pen, covered area or field used by a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard in order to confine it until it is slaughtered or killed or to give it any necessary attention before it is slaughtered or killed;

“the Minister” means, in relation to England, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and, in relation to Scotland or Wales, the Secretary of State;

“the Ministers” means the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Secretary of State for Wales and the Secretary of State for Scotland acting jointly;

“movement”, in relation to an animal, means unloading it or driving it from an unloading place, stall or pen at a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard to the premises or place where it is to be lairaged, slaughtered or killed;

“pithing”, in relation to an animal, means the destruction of its brain tissue after stunning to the extent that irreversible loss of consciousness is ensured;

“restraining pen” means a pen or compartment which is—

suitable for restraining for slaughter by a religious method (as defined in paragraph 2 of Schedule 12) in an upright position any ox, bullock, cow, heifer or steer or any calf which is too large to be restrained manually on a cradle or on a table;

constructed so as to permit one animal at a time to be confined in it without discomfort and so as to prevent any substantial movement of the animal forwards, backwards or sideways once it has been placed in position for slaughter; and

approved by the Minister under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12;

“restraint”, in relation to an animal, means the application of any procedure designed to restrict its movements in order to facilitate effective stunning or killing;

“slaughter”, in relation to an animal, means causing the death of the animal by bleeding;

“slaughterhouse” means any premises used for the commercial slaughter or killing of solipeds, ruminants, pigs, rabbits or birds the flesh of which is intended for human consumption, including any associated facilities for moving or lairaging such animals;

“stunning”, in relation to an animal, means any process which causes immediate loss of consciousness which lasts until death;

“stunning pen” means a pen or compartment which is suitable for confining adult bovine animals while they are being stunned and which is so constructed that it—

permits one animal at a time to be confined in it without discomfort;

prevents any substantial movement forwards, backwards or sideways of an animal confined in it;

restricts the movement of the head of any animal confined in it without causing the animal any avoidable excitement so as to permit accurate stunning and allows the head of the animal to be released immediately after the animal has been stunned; and

allows unimpeded access to the forehead of the animal confined in it;

“wild game” means wild land mammals which are hunted (including wild mammals living within an enclosed area under conditions of freedom similar to those enjoyed by wild game) and wild birds.

(2) For the purposes of these Regulations, a person permits any act or omission if he knows of, or might reasonably be expected to know of, that act or omission.

(3) Any reference in these Regulations to a numbered regulation or Schedule shall, except where the context otherwise requires, be construed as a reference to the regulation or Schedule bearing that number in these Regulations.

(4) Any provision in these Regulations which applies to an animal awaiting slaughter or killing applies until that animal is dead.

Section 3 Application and exemptions

(1) These Regulations apply to the movement, lairaging, restraint, stunning, slaughter and killing of animals bred or kept for the production of meat, skin, fur or other products, to methods of killing animals for the purpose of disease control and to the killing of surplus chicks and embryos in hatchery waste.

(2) These Regulations do not apply to any act lawfully done under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 .

(3) These Regulations do not apply to any animal which is killed during a sporting event.

(4) These Regulations do not apply to the killing of wild game.

Section 3A Immobilisation after stunning

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 4 Humane treatment of animals

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 5 Safeguarding the welfare of animals

The occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard shall ensure that at all times when there are live animals on the premises a person (whether or not himself) is available who is competent, and who has authority to take whatever action may be necessary to safeguard the welfare of the animals in accordance with these Regulations.

Section 6 Animal welfare legislation and codes

(1) The occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard shall ensure that any person who is involved in any of the activities governed by these Regulations—

(a) is acquainted with the provisions of the legislation, and of any welfare codes, relevant to the operations that that person carries out;

(b) has access to a copy of any such welfare code at the slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard;

(c) has received instruction and guidance on the requirements of such legislation and any such welfare code; and

(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2) In this regulation “welfare code” means any current code issued under regulation 7.

Section 7 Codes of practice

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 8 Construction, equipment and maintenance of slaughterhouses and knackers' yards

Schedule 2 shall have effect in relation to the construction, equipment and maintenance of slaughterhouses and knackers' yards.

Section 9 The slaughter of animals in slaughterhouses and knackers' yards

Where any soliped, ruminant, pig, rabbit or bird is brought into a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard for slaughter, that animal shall be—

(a) moved and lairaged in accordance with Schedule 3;

(b) restrained in accordance with Schedule 4;

(c) subject to regulation 22, stunned before slaughter in accordance with Parts I and II of Schedule 5; and

(d) bled or pithed in accordance with Schedule 6.

Section 10 The killing of animals in slaughterhouses and knackers' yards

Where any soliped, ruminant, pig, rabbit or bird is brought into a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard for killing, that animal shall be—

(a) moved and lairaged in accordance with Schedule 3;

(b) restrained in accordance with Schedule 4; and

(c) subject to regulation 11, killed in accordance with Parts I and III of Schedule 5.

Section 11 The killing of pigs and birds by exposure to gas mixtures

Schedule 7 shall have effect in relation to the killing of pigs and birds by exposure to gas mixtures.

Section 12 Additional provisions for the slaughter or killing of horses

Without prejudice to regulations 9 and 10, Schedule 8 shall have effect in relation to the slaughter or killing of horses.

Section 13 Application of Part III

(1) This Part applies to the slaughter or killing of animals elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard.

(2) This Part does not apply in the case of any animal which has to be killed immediately for emergency reasons relating to the welfare of that animal.

Section 14 The slaughter of animals elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard

Subject to regulations 16 and 17, where any soliped, ruminant, pig, rabbit or bird is slaughtered elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard, that animal shall be—

(a) restrained in accordance with Schedule 4;

(b) ... stunned before slaughter in accordance with Parts I and II of Schedule 5; and

(c) bled or pithed in accordance with Schedule 6.

Section 14A The killing of birds by exposure to gas mixtures elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse

Schedule 7A shall have effect in relation to the killing of birds by exposure to gas mixtures elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse.

Section 15 The killing of animals elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 16 The slaughter or killing of animals elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard for private consumption

Regulations 14 and 15 shall not apply in respect of any bird, rabbit, pig, sheep or goat which is slaughtered or killed by its owner for his private consumption, provided that—

(a) regulation 4(1) is complied with; and

(b) any such animal that is slaughtered is stunned before slaughter in accordance with Parts I and II of Schedule 5.

Section 17 The slaughter or killing of animals for the purpose of disease control

The slaughter or killing of any animal for the purpose of disease control shall be in accordance with Schedule 9.

Section 18 The killing of fox and mink which are farmed for their fur

The killing of any fox or mink which is farmed for its fur shall be in accordance with Schedule 10.

Section 19 The killing of surplus chicks and embryos in hatchery waste

The killing of any surplus chicks which are less than 72 hours old and embryos in hatchery waste shall be as rapid as possible in accordance with Schedule 11.

Section 20 Birds awaiting slaughter at place of purchase

The occupier or person in charge of any premises at which birds are offered or exposed for sale prior to being slaughtered there shall ensure that, on arrival at the premises, the birds are forthwith—

(a) placed in accommodation in which they are able, without difficulty, to stand upright, turn around and stretch their wings; and

(b) provided with a sufficient supply of wholesome food and clean drinking water.

Section 21 Additional requirements relating to slaughter by a religious method

Schedule 12 shall have effect in relation to the slaughter of any animal by a religious method.

Section 22 Exemption for slaughter by a religious method

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 23 Powers of authorised persons

(1) An authorised person, upon producing, if required to do so, some duly authenticated document showing his authority, may at any time enter—

(a) any slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard; or

(b) any land or premises, other than premises used wholly or mainly as a dwelling, where he reasonably suspects that any activity which is governed by these Regulations is, or has been, carried on,

for the purpose of ascertaining whether there is or has been any contravention of these Regulations.

(2) An authorised person shall have power to carry out all checks and examinations necessary for the enforcement of these Regulations.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (2) above, an authorised person may in particular, where he has a reasonable suspicion that there is or has been a contravention of these Regulations—

(a) take samples (and, if necessary, send the samples for laboratory testing) from any animal, carcase or part of a carcase;

(b) take away any carcase or part of a carcase (and, if necessary, send it for laboratory testing);

(c) require the production of any relevant record or document;

(d) inspect any relevant record or document;

(e) take copies of any relevant record or document; and

(f) take away any relevant record or document.

(4) An authorised person may take with him into the slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard or onto the premises or land such other persons as he considers necessary ... .

Section 24 Obstruction

(1) No person shall—

(a) intentionally obstruct any person acting in the execution of these Regulations;

(b) without reasonable cause, fail to give to any person acting in the execution of these Regulations any assistance or information which that person may reasonably require of him for the purposes of his functions under these Regulations; or

(c) furnish to any person acting in the execution of these Regulations any information which he knows to be false or misleading.

(2) Nothing in paragraph (1)(b) above shall be construed as requiring any person to answer any question or give any information if to do so might incriminate him.

Section 25 Offences by bodies corporate

(1) Where a body corporate is guilty of an offence under these Regulations and the offence is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of—

(a) any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate; or

(b) any person who was purporting to act in any such capacity,

he as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of the offence and be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) above, “director”, in relation to a body corporate whose affairs are managed by its members, means a member of the body corporate.

(3) Where an offence under these Regulations is committed by a Scottish partnership and is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of, a partner, he as well as the partnership shall be guilty of the offence and be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

Section 26 Offences and penalties

(1) Any person who contravenes any provision of these Regulations shall be guilty of an offence.

(2) Any person guilty of an offence by virtue of regulation 4(2) or (3) or 24(1)(a) or (b) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

(3) A person guilty of an offence by virtue of regulation 24(1)(c) shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

(4) A person guilty of any other offence under these Regulations shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or both.

(5) Paragraph (1) above shall not apply to anything done or omitted by the Minister or an authorised veterinary surgeon in exercise of functions conferred by these Regulations.

Section 26A Time limit for summary prosecution

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 27 Defence

A person who contravenes any provision in these Regulations shall not be guilty of an offence in respect of such contravention if he proves that by reason of accident or other emergency the contravention was necessary for preventing injury or suffering to any person or animal.

Section 28 Repeals, revocations and amendments

(1) The enactments mentioned in columns 1 and 2 of Schedule 13 are hereby repealed to the extent specified in column 3 of that Schedule.

(2) The enactments and regulations mentioned in Schedule 14 to these Regulations shall have effect subject to the amendments there specified.

(3) The regulations mentioned in columns 1 and 2 of Schedule 15 are hereby revoked.

Section 29 Review

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 1

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 2

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 3

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 4

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 5

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 6

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 7

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 8

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 9

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 10

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 11

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 12

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Section 1 General requirements for all slaughterhouses and knackers' yards

The occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard shall ensure that—

(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) it has suitable equipment and facilities available for the purpose of unloading animals from means of transport, save that any occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard which was in operation before 1st July 1994 need not comply with this requirement until 1st January 1996;

(c) there are no sharp edges or protrusions in the slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard with which any animal may come into contact;

(d) the place of slaughter or killing is sited in such a way as to minimise handling of the animal at any time up to the point of slaughter or killing;

(e) any instrument, restraining equipment, other equipment or installation which is used for stunning, slaughter or killing is designed, constructed and maintained so as to facilitate rapid and effective stunning, slaughter or killing in accordance with these Regulations; and

(f) for emergency use, suitable spare equipment and instruments for stunning, slaughter or killing are kept at the site within the slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard where stunning, slaughter or killing takes place and—

(i) such equipment and instruments are properly maintained and thoroughly inspected regularly by the occupier or by a competent person acting on his behalf in order to ensure that there is no defect in any of them; and

(ii) any defect found at any time in such equipment or instruments is rectified forthwith.

Section 2 Additional requirements for slaughterhouses or knackers' yards to which animals are delivered other than in containers

In addition to requirements of paragraph 1 above, the occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard to which animals are delivered other than in containers shall ensure that—

(a) any equipment for unloading such animals is of a suitable height and design for that purpose, has non-slip flooring and, if necessary, is provided with lateral protection;

(b) any bridge, ramp and gangway is fitted with sides, railings or some other means of protection to prevent animals falling off them;

(c) any exit and entry ramp has the minimum possible incline;

(d) all passageways are so constructed as to minimise the risk of injury to any animal and so arranged as to take account of the gregarious tendencies of the animals which use them; and

(e) where the slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard is one in which horses are slaughtered or killed, a separate room or bay is provided there for use for the slaughter or killing of horses.

Section 3 Additional requirements relating to lairages other than field lairages

The occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard to which animals are delivered other than in containers shall ensure that—

(a) the slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard is equipped with a sufficient number of pens for adequate lairaging of the animals with protection from the effects of adverse weather conditions;

(b) any lairage has—

(i) a floor which minimises the risk of slipping and which does not cause injury to any animal which is in contact with it;

(ii) adequate ventilation to ensure that temperature, air relative humidity and ammonia levels are kept within limits that are not harmful to any animal, taking into account the extremes of temperature and humidity which may be expected;

(iii) where such ventilation is provided other than naturally, a replacement means of maintaining adequate ventilation available for use if the original source of ventilation fails;

(iv) adequate lighting (whether fixed or portable) to enable the animals to be thoroughly inspected at any time;

(v) where necessary, suitable equipment for tethering animals; and

(vi) drinking facilities and racks, mangers or other equipment adequate in number and size for the watering and feeding of all animals confined in the lairage, fixed where practicable, and so constructed and placed that they are easily accessible to all the animals, can readily be filled and cannot readily be fouled; and

(c) where the lairage is one in which any horses are confined, the lairage contains at least one loose box which is so constructed as to minimise the danger of any horse injuring itself or any other animal confined in that lairage.

Section 4 Additional requirements for field lairages

The occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard shall ensure that any field lairage—

(a) if it is without natural shelter or shade and is used during adverse weather conditions, has appropriate protection against such conditions for any animal using it;

(b) is maintained in such condition as to ensure that no animal is subjected to any physical, chemical or other health hazard;

(c) where necessary, has suitable equipment for tethering animals;

(d) has adequate lighting (whether fixed or portable) available to enable the animals to be thoroughly inspected at any time; and

(e) is provided with drinking facilities and, if necessary, with racks, mangers or other equipment adequate in number and size for the watering and feeding of all animals confined in the field lairage, fixed where practicable, and so constructed and placed that they are easily accessible to all the animals, can readily be filled and cannot readily be fouled.

Section 5 Additional requirements for slaughterhouses containing shackle lines for birds

Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph 1 above, the occupier of a slaughterhouse where birds are slaughtered or killed shall ensure that—

(a) any shackle line is designed and positioned in such a way that—

(i) any bird suspended on it is kept clear of any obstruction; and

(ii) disturbance is reduced to a minimum;

(b) the whole length of the shackle line up to the point of entry into the scald tank is immediately accessible to any person so that any bird may, if necessary, receive attention; and

(c) there is ready access to any processing equipment used for live birds and to any controls of such equipment.

Section 1 Interpretation

In this Schedule “animal” means any soliped, ruminant, pig, rabbit or bird.