Slaughter Regulations Consultation

28th August 2012

A consultation on new EU rules to protect the welfare of animals at slaughter and killing was today launched by the Scottish Government.

Domestic legislation will be introduced in Scotland to enforce and implement the new EU Regulation. As well as introducing new technical rules, the EU Regulation also offers opportunities to maintain existing national rules or introduce stricter national rules in specific areas.

The consultation is designed to ensure that the new Scottish legislation makes the most appropriate use of these flexibilities and was prepared following discussions with Scottish Stakeholders.

The new legislation will affect a range of businesses, including poultry and livestock farmers, knackermen and equipment manufacturers as well as abattoirs.

Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said:

"Each year millions of animals are slaughtered in Scotland and it's important that this is done as humanely as possible.

"Scotland rightly has an excellent reputation for the health and welfare of its farmed animals, and ensuring the humane slaughter and killing of animals is of great importance to the Scottish Government.

"The new legislation that we are consulting on will further protect animal welfare as we move to implement and enforce the new European rules."

The new regulations will affect:

All abattoirs in Scotland involved in slaughtering pigs, poultry, cattle, sheep, farmed game and other species
Seasonal on-farm slaughter of poultry
26,000 livestock/poultry farmers and others involved in killing animals outside a slaughterhouse
Companies manufacturing equipment for use in slaughterhouses
Government agencies e.g. the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Animal Health Veterinary Laboratory Agency (AHVLA), which are responsible for approving facilities, verification and enforcement activities and supervision of depopulation operations
In Scotland in 2010-11, the number of animals slaughtered or killed was:

55 million poultry
1.5 million sheep
645 thousand pigs
616 thousand farmed game
426 thousand cattle
196 goats
The consultation outlines key directly applicable measures that will come into effect on the January 1, 2013 and makes proposals for national rules. The closing date is 26 October 2012.

Related Information

The consultation is available at www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/08/9239

EU Regulation 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing comes into effect on January 1, 2013. This was developed in light of scientific developments, European Food Safety Authority opinions and public concern regarding poor practice in some member states. Its aim is to improve welfare in several key areas whilst ensuring a level playing field for business operators.

The consultation is seeking views on proposals to implement the changes consistently across the UK, looking at training, licensing, mechanisms, enforcement, offences and penalties. The consultation also gives the opportunity to comment on suggestions for stricter national rules which will be considered on a case by case basis where there is evidence that these would significantly improve animal welfare