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

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  5. 4Humane treatment of animals Repealed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  8. 7Codes of practice Repealed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  26. 22Exemption for slaughter by a religious method Repealed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  32. 26ATime limit for summary prosecution Repealed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  36. 29Review Repealed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 Schedule 1 Repealed
  39. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  40. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  41. 3Paragraph 3 Repealed
  42. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  43. 5Paragraph 5 Repealed
  44. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  45. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  46. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  47. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  48. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  49. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  50. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed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