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The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 in England

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  5. 3AImmobilisation after stunning Repealed
  6. 4Humane treatment of animals Repealed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  9. 7Codes of practice Repealed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  27. 22Exemption for slaughter by a religious method Repealed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  33. 26ATime limit for summary prosecution Repealed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  37. 29Review Repealed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 Schedule 1 Repealed
  40. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  41. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  42. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  43. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  44. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  45. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  46. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  47. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  48. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  49. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  50. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  51. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed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