# Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 of 24 September 2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing (Text with EEA relevance), Division CHAPTER I: Methods

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

Table 1 —
Mechanical methods
No
Name
Description
Conditions of use
Key parameters
Specific requirements for certain methods — Chapter II of this Annex
1
Penetrative captive bolt device
Severe and irreversible damage of the brain provoked by the shock and the penetration of a captive bolt.
Simple stunning.
All species.
Slaughter, depopulation and other situations.
Position and direction of the shot.
Appropriate velocity, exit length and diameter of bolt according to animal size and species.
Maximum stun to stick/kill interval(s).
Not applicable.
2
Non-penetrative captive bolt device
Severe damage of the brain by the shock of a captive bolt without penetration.
Simple stunning in accordance with points 1.1 and 1.2 of Chapter 2 of this Annex and otherwise in accordance with points 1.1, 1.3 and 1.4 of that Chapter.
Ruminants, piglets, poultry, rabbits and hares.
Slaughter only for ruminants except lambs of less than 10kg live weight and kids of less than 10kg live weight.
Slaughter, depopulation and other situations for poultry, piglets of less than 10kg live weight, lambs of less than 10kg live weight, kids of less than 10kg live weight, rabbits and hares.
Position and direction of the shot.
Appropriate velocity, diameter and shape of bolt according to animal size and species.
Strength of the cartridge used.
Kinetic energy delivered.
Maximum stun to stick/kill interval(s).
Point 1 Points 1.1 to 1.4.
3
Firearm with free projectile
Severe and irreversible damage of the brain provoked by the shock and the penetration of one or more projectiles.
All species.
Slaughter, depopulation and other situations.
Position of the shot.
Power and calibre of the cartridge.
Type of projectile.
Not applicable.
4
Maceration
Immediate crushing of the entire animal.
Chicks up to 72 hours and egg embryos.
All situations other than slaughter.
Maximum size of the batch to be introduced.
Distance between the blades and speed of rotation.
Measure to prevent overloading.
Point 2.
5
Cervical dislocation
Manual or mechanical stretching and twist of the neck provoking cerebral ischemia.
Poultry up to 5 kg live weight.
Slaughter, depopulation and other situations.
Not applicable.
Point 3.
6
Percussive blow to the head
Firm and accurate blow to the head provoking severe damage to the brain.
Piglets, lambs, kids, rabbits, hares, fur animals and poultry up to 5 kg live weight.
Slaughter, depopulation and other situations.
Force and location of the blow.
Point 3.
Table 2 —
Electrical methods
No
Name
Description
Conditions of use
Key parameters
Specific requirements of Chapter II of this Annex
1
Head-only electrical stunning
Exposure of the brain to a current generating a generalised epileptic form on the electro-encephalogram (EEG).
Simple stunning.
All species.
Slaughter, depopulation and other situations.
Minimum current (A or mA).
Minimum voltage (V).
Maximum frequency (Hz).
Minimum time of exposure.
Maximum stun-to-stick/kill interval(s).
Frequency of calibration of the equipment.
Optimisation of the current flow.
Prevention of electrical shocks before stunning.
Position and contact surface area of electrodes.
Point 4.
2
Head-to-Body electrical stunning
Exposure of the body to a current generating at the same time a generalised epileptic form on the EEG and the fibrillation or the stopping of the heart.
Simple stunning in case of slaughter.
All species.
Slaughter, depopulation and other situations.
Minimum current (A or mA).
Minimum voltage (V).
Maximum frequency (Hz).
Minimum time of exposure.
Frequency of calibration of the equipment.
Optimisation of the current flow.
Prevention of electrical shocks before stunning.
Position and contact surface area of electrodes.
Maximum stun-to-stick interval(s), in case of simple stunning(s).
Point 5.
3
Electrical waterbath
Exposure of the entire body to a current generating a generalised epileptic form on the EEG and possibly the fibrillation or the stopping of the heart through a waterbath.
Simple stunning except where frequency is equal to or less than 50 Hz.
Poultry.
Slaughter, depopulation and other situations.
Minimum current (A or mA).
Minimum voltage (V).
Maximum frequency (Hz).
Frequency of calibration of the equipment.
Prevention of electrical shocks before stunning.
Minimising pain at shackling.
Optimisation of current flow.
Maximum shackle duration before the waterbath.
Minimum time of exposure for each animal.
Immersion of the birds up to the base of the wings.
Maximum stun-to-stick/kill interval(s) for frequency over 50 Hz(s).
Point 6.
Table 3 —
Controlled atmosphere methods
No
Name
Description
Conditions of use
Key parameters
Specific requirements of Chapter II of this Annex
1
Carbon dioxide at high concentration
Direct or progressive exposure of conscious animals to a gas mixture containing more than 40 % carbon dioxide. The method may be used in pits, tunnels, containers or building previously sealed.
Simple stunning in case of slaughter of pigs.
Pigs, mustelids, chinchillas, poultry except ducks and geese.
Slaughter only for pigs.
Other situations than slaughter for poultry mustelids, chinchillas, pigs.
Carbon dioxide concentration.
Duration of exposure.
Maximum stun-to-stick interval(s) in case of simple stunning.
Quality of the gas.
Temperature of the gas.
Point 7.
Point 8.
2
Carbon dioxide in two phases
Successive exposure of conscious animals to a gas mixture containing up to 40 % of carbon dioxide, followed when animals have lost consciousness, by a higher concentration of carbon dioxide.
Poultry
Slaughter, depopulation and other situations
Carbon dioxide concentration.
Duration of exposure.
Quality of the gas.
Temperature of the gas.
Not applicable.
3
Carbon dioxide associated with inert gases
Direct or progressive exposure of conscious animals to a gas mixture containing up to 40 % of carbon dioxide associated with inert gases leading to anoxia. The method may be used in pits, bags, tunnels, containers or in buildings previously sealed.
Simple stunning for pigs if the duration of exposure to at least 30 % of carbon dioxide is of less than 7 minutes.
Simple stunning for poultry if the overall duration of exposure to at least 30 % of carbon dioxide is of less than 3 minutes.
Pigs and poultry.
Slaughter, depopulation and other situations.
Carbon dioxide concentration.
Duration of exposure.
Maximum stun-to-stick/kill interval(s) in case of simple stunning.
Quality of the gas.
Temperature of the gas.
Oxygen concentration.
Point 8.
4
Inert gases
Direct or progressive exposure of conscious animals to a inert gas mixture such as Argon or Nitrogen leading to anoxia. The method may be used in pits, bags, tunnels, containers or in buildings previously sealed.
Simple stunning in case of the slaughter of pigs.
Simple stunning for poultry if the duration of exposure to anoxia is of less than 3 minutes.
Pigs and poultry.
Slaughter, depopulation and other situations.
Oxygen concentration.
Duration of exposure.
Quality of the gas.
Maximum stun-to-stick/kill interval(s) in case of simple stunning.
Temperature of the gas.
Point 8.
5
Carbon monoxide (pure source)
Exposure of conscious animals to a gas mixture containing more than 4 % of carbon monoxide.
Fur animals, poultry and piglets.
Other situations than slaughter.
Quality of the gas.
Carbon monoxide concentration.
Duration of exposure.
Temperature of the gas.
Points 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3.
6
Carbon monoxide associated with other gases
Exposure of conscious animals to a gas mixture containing more than 1 % of carbon monoxide associated with other toxic gases.
Fur animals, poultry and piglets.
Other situations than slaughter.
Carbon monoxide concentration.
Duration of exposure.
Temperature of the gas.
Filtration of the gas produced from engine.
Point 9.
7
Low atmospheric pressure stunning
Exposure of conscious animals to gradual decompression with reduction in available oxygen to less than 5 %.
Broiler chickens up to 4 kg live weight.
Slaughter, depopulation and other situations.
Rate of decompression.
Duration of exposure.
Ambient temperature and humidity.
Points 10.1 to 10.5.
Table 4 —
Other methods
No
Name
Description
Conditions of use
Key parameters
Specific requirements of Chapter II of this Annex
1
Lethal injection
Loss of consciousness and sensibility followed by irreversible death induced by the injection of veterinary medicines.
All species.
Other situations than slaughter.
Type of injection.
Using approved medicines.
Not applicable.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2009/1099/annex/I/CHAPTER/I (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2009-1099/annex-I/CHAPTER/I
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.