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The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995

S.I. 1995/731 · Made 14 March 1995 · Extends to England, Wales and Scotland

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 31 December 2020.

ANIMALS

PREVENTION OF CRUELTY

Made 14th March 1995

Laid before Parliament 14th March 1995

Coming into force 1st April 1995

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State, being Ministers designatedf1 for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972f2 in relation to the common agricultural policy of the European Community, acting jointly, in exercise of the powers conferred upon them by the said section 2(2) and of all other powers enabling them in that behalf, hereby make the following RegulationsC1C2

Annotations to the whole text

Textual amendments

F1

Regulations revoked (W.) (20.5.2014) by The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Wales) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 2014/951), regs. 1(c), 46(a); and revoked (E.) (5.11.2015) by The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1782), regs. 1(4), 47(a)

Modifications

C1

Regulations: certain functions transferred (1.7.1999) by The National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999 (S.I. 1999/672), arts. 1(2), 2, Sch. 1

C2

Regulations: functions transferred (31.12.2004) by The National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/3044), arts. 1(2), 2(a)(c), Sch. 1 (with art. 3)

Footnotes

f1

S.I. 1972/1811.

f2

1972 c. 68.

Contents

  1. Part I: INTRODUCTORY
  2. 1Title, commencement and extent
  3. 2Interpretation
  4. 3Application and exemptions
  5. 3AImmobilisation after stunning Repealed
  6. 4Humane treatment of animals Repealed
  7. 5Safeguarding the welfare of animals
  8. 6Animal welfare legislation and codes
  9. 7Codes of practice Repealed
  10. Part II: REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO SLAUGHTERHOUSES AND KNACKERS' YARDS
  11. 8Construction, equipment and maintenance of slaughterhouses and knackers' yards
  12. 9The slaughter of animals in slaughterhouses and knackers' yards
  13. 10The killing of animals in slaughterhouses and knackers' yards
  14. 11The killing of pigs and birds by exposure to gas mixtures
  15. 12Additional provisions for the slaughter or killing of horses
  16. Part III: SLAUGHTER OR KILLING ELSEWHERE THAN IN SLAUGHTERHOUSES OR KNACKERS' YARDS
  17. 13Application of Part III
  18. 14The slaughter of animals elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard
  19. 14AThe killing of birds by exposure to gas mixtures elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse
  20. 15The killing of animals elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard Repealed
  21. 16The slaughter or killing of animals elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard for private consumption
  22. 17The slaughter or killing of animals for the purpose of disease control
  23. 18The killing of fox and mink which are farmed for their fur
  24. 19The killing of surplus chicks and embryos in hatchery waste
  25. 20Birds awaiting slaughter at place of purchase
  26. Part IV: SLAUGHTER BY A RELIGIOUS METHOD
  27. 21Additional requirements relating to slaughter by a religious method
  28. 22Exemption for slaughter by a religious method Repealed
  29. Part V: EXECUTION, OFFENCES AND PENALTIES
  30. 23Powers of authorised persons
  31. 24Obstruction
  32. 25Offences by bodies corporate
  33. 26Offences and penalties
  34. 26ATime limit for summary prosecution Repealed
  35. 27Defence
  36. Part VI: REPEALS, REVOCATIONS AND AMENDMENTS
  37. 28Repeals, revocations and amendments
  38. 29Review Repealed
  39. Signature
  40. Schedule 1 Repealed
  41. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  42. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  43. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  44. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  45. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  46. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  47. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  48. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  49. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  50. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  51. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  52. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  53. Schedule 2: THE CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF SLAUGHTERHOUSES AND KNACKERS' YARDS
  54. Part I: REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL SLAUGHTERHOUSES AND KNACKERS' YARDS
  55. 1General requirements for all slaughterhouses and knackers' yards
  56. Part II: ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SLAUGHTERHOUSES OR KNACKERS' YARDS TO WHICH ANIMALS ARE DELIVERED OTHER THAN IN CONTAINERS
  57. 2Additional requirements for slaughterhouses or knackers' yards to which animals are delivered other than in containers
  58. 3Additional requirements relating to lairages other than field lairages
  59. 4Additional requirements for field lairages
  60. Part III: SHACKLE LINES
  61. 5Additional requirements for slaughterhouses containing shackle lines for birds
  62. Schedule 3: REQUIREMENTS FOR ANIMALS AWAITING SLAUGHTER OR KILLING
  63. Part I: INTRODUCTORY
  64. 1Interpretation
  65. Part II: REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL ANIMALS AWAITING SLAUGHTER OR KILLING
  66. 2General requirements
  67. 3Inspection of animals
  68. 4Slaughter or killing of animals which have experienced pain or suffering and unweaned animals
  69. 5Emergency slaughter and killing
  70. Part III: ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ANIMALS DELIVERED OTHER THAN IN CONTAINERS
  71. 6Treatment of animals delivered other than in containers
  72. 7The lifting or dragging of animals
  73. 8The driving of animals
  74. 9Moving animals with care
  75. 10Instruments for guiding animals
  76. 11Instruments to make animals move
  77. 12Treatment of animals
  78. 13Lairaging of animals
  79. Part IV: ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ANIMALS DELIVERED IN CONTAINERS
  80. 14Handling of animals delivered in containers
  81. 15Slaughter or killing of animals delivered in containers
  82. Part V: ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BIRDS
  83. 16Birds awaiting slaughter or killing at place of purchase
  84. Schedule 4: RESTRAINT OF ANIMALS BEFORE STUNNING, SLAUGHTER OR KILLING
  85. 1Paragraph 1
  86. 2Paragraph 2
  87. 3Paragraph 3
  88. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  89. 5Paragraph 5
  90. 6Paragraph 6
  91. 7Paragraph 7
  92. 8Paragraph 8
  93. 9Paragraph 9
  94. Schedule 5: STUNNING OR KILLING OF ANIMALS OTHER THAN ANIMALS REARED FOR FUR
  95. Part I: INTRODUCTORY
  96. 1Interpretation
  97. 2General provision
  98. Part II: STUNNING
  99. 3Stunning of animals
  100. 4Permitted methods of stunning animals
  101. 5Specific requirements for stunning by use of a captive bolt instrument
  102. 6Paragraph 6
  103. 7Specific requirements for stunning by concussion
  104. 8Specific requirements for stunning by electronarcosis — electrodes
  105. 9Paragraph 9
  106. 10Specific requirements for stunning by electronarcosis — waterbath stunners
  107. 11Paragraph 11
  108. 12Paragraph 12
  109. Part III: KILLING
  110. 13Methods of killing animals
  111. 14Specific requirements for killing by electrocution
  112. Schedule 6: BLEEDING OR PITHING OF ANIMALS
  113. 1Paragraph 1
  114. 2Paragraph 2
  115. 3Paragraph 3
  116. 4Paragraph 4
  117. 5Manual back up of automatic machinery
  118. Schedule 7: KILLING PIGS AND BIRDS BY EXPOSURE TO GAS MIXTURES
  119. Part I: GENERAL
  120. 1Scope
  121. 2Interpretation
  122. Part II: THE KILLING OF PIGS BY EXPOSURE TO CARBON DIOXIDE
  123. 3The killing of pigs by exposure to carbon dioxide
  124. 4Construction of the chamber
  125. 5The operation of the chamber
  126. 6Paragraph 6
  127. Part III: KILLING BIRDS BY EXPOSURE TO GAS MIXTURES
  128. 7The killing of birds by exposure to gas mixtures
  129. 8Construction of the chamber
  130. 9The operation of the chamber
  131. 10Paragraph 10
  132. Schedule 7A: KILLING OF BIRDS BY EXPOSURE TO GAS MIXTURES ELSEWHERE THAN IN A SLAUGHTERHOUSE
  133. Part I: Interpretation
  134. 1Paragraph 1
  135. Part II: End of lay hens and end of life breeder hens
  136. 2Paragraph 2
  137. Part III: Killing where there is a restriction on movement
  138. 3Paragraph 3
  139. Part IV: The chamber
  140. 4Chamber operator
  141. 5Construction of the chamber
  142. 6Operation of the chamber
  143. Part V: Combinations of gas mixtures and chamber
  144. 7Paragraph 7
  145. Schedule 7A Repealed
  146. Part I Repealed
  147. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  148. Part II Repealed
  149. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  150. Part III Repealed
  151. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  152. Part IV Repealed
  153. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  154. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  155. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  156. Part V Repealed
  157. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  158. Schedule 7A Repealed
  159. Part 1 Repealed
  160. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  161. Part II Repealed
  162. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  163. Part III Repealed
  164. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  165. Part IV Repealed
  166. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  167. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  168. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  169. Part V Repealed
  170. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  171. Schedule 8: ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR THE SLAUGHTER OR KILLING OF HORSES IN SLAUGHTERHOUSES AND KNACKERS' YARDS
  172. 1Paragraph 1
  173. 2Paragraph 2
  174. 3Paragraph 3
  175. Schedule 9: SLAUGHTER OR KILLING METHODS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISEASE CONTROL
  176. 1Interpretation
  177. 2Permitted methods of slaughtering or killing animals for the purpose of disease control
  178. 3Specific requirements for killing for the purpose of disease control by electrocution
  179. 4Specific requirements for stunning by use of a captive bolt instrument
  180. 5Paragraph 5
  181. 6Specific requirements for killing for the purpose of disease control by ventilation shutdown Repealed
  182. Schedule 10: METHODS OF KILLING FOX AND MINK
  183. 1Application
  184. 2Killing fox which is farmed for its fur
  185. 3Killing mink which is farmed for its fur
  186. 4Specific requirements for killing mink by a lethal injection of a drug with anaesthetic properties
  187. 5Specific requirements for killing mink by exposure to carbon monoxide
  188. 6Specific requirements for killing mink by exposure to carbon dioxide
  189. Schedule 11: KILLING OF SURPLUS CHICKS AND EMBRYOS IN HATCHERY WASTE
  190. 1Permitted methods of killing surplus chicks
  191. 2Specific requirements for killing surplus chicks by use of a mechanical apparatus producing immediate death
  192. 3Specific requirements for killing surplus chicks by exposure to gas mixtures
  193. 4Specific reqirements for killing surplus chicks by dislocation of the neck
  194. 5Permitted method of killing embryos in hatchery waste
  195. 6Specific requirements for killing embryos in hatchery waste by use of a mechanical apparatus producing immediate death
  196. Schedule 12: ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR SLAUGHTER BY A RELIGIOUS METHOD
  197. Part I: GENERAL
  198. 1Interpretation
  199. 2Slaughter by a religious method
  200. Part II: PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SLAUGHTER OF ANIMALS BY A RELIGIOUS METHOD
  201. 3Slaughter of bovine animals by a religious method
  202. 4Use and maintenance of restraining pens
  203. 5Handling of animals during slaughter
  204. 6Method of slaughter
  205. 7Handling animals after slaughter by a religious method
  206. 8Prohibition against slaughter by a religious method elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse Repealed
  207. Part III: PROVISIONS RELATING TO THE SLAUGHTER OF BIRDS BY A RELIGIOUS METHOD
  208. 9Slaughter of birds by a religious method
  209. 10Handling birds after slaughter by a religious method
  210. Part IV: THE RABBINICAL COMMISSION FOR THE LICENSING OF SHOCHETIM
  211. 11Membership
  212. 12Paragraph 12
  213. 13Paragraph 13
  214. 14Supplementary provisions
  215. 15Paragraph 15
  216. Schedule 13REPEALS
  217. Schedule 14: AMENDMENTS OF ENACTMENTS AND REGULATIONS
  218. Firearms Act 1968 (c. 27)
  219. 1Paragraph 1
  220. Slaughterhouses Act 1974 (c. 3)
  221. 2Paragraph 2
  222. Slaughter of Animals (Scotland) Act 1980 (c. 13)
  223. 3Paragraph 3
  224. Fresh Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995 (S.I. 1995/539)
  225. 6Paragraph 6
  226. Schedule 15REVOCATIONS
  227. Explanatory note