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Protection of animals at the time of killing
Protection of animals at the time of killing
Protection of animals at the time of killing
Protection of animals at the time of killing
SUMMARY OF:
Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing
SUMMARY
WHAT DOES THIS REGULATION DO?
KEY POINTS
Animals must be spared any avoidable pain, distress or suffering during their killing. Businesses, such as slaughterhouse operators, must ensure that animals:
Facilities used for killing must be capable of fulfilling all these conditions at all times of the year.
Restraining and stunning methods
The regulation sets out detailed rules about restraining and stunning animals, including the training of operators and the proper maintenance of equipment. It covers the application of different methods for different animals. In particular, stunned animals must remain unconscious until death, unless they are subject to particular methods prescribed by religious rites, which must take place in a slaughterhouse.
Certificate of competence
Killing and related operations can only be carried out by persons with the level of competence to do so without causing the animals any avoidable pain, distress or suffering. Some operations require individual certificates of competence, for instance:
The health certificate accompanying meat imported from non-EU countries must certify that the equivalent requirements have been met.
Slaughterhouses
There are detailed rules for the construction, the equipment and operations of slaughterhouses. Procedures must be constantly monitored by slaughterhouse operators, who must also appoint an Animal Welfare Officer to help ensure compliance. The following methods of restraint are among those banned:
There are some exceptions where an inverted position is allowed in the case of poultry or in the context of slaughter for religious rites.
Depopulation* and emergency killing
An action plan must be in place to ensure compliance with this regulation, before any depopulation operation begins. In addition, depopulation operations must be reported every year. The report must include, in particular:
Where animals face severe pain or suffering, the keeper of the animals concerned must take all necessary measures to kill the animals as soon as possible.
Non-compliance and penalties
EU countries must ensure that the rules are implemented and that the competent authorities have the power to:
Penalties must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.
FROM WHEN DOES THIS REGULATION APPLY?
It applies from 1 January 2013.
BACKGROUND
Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union introduced the recognition that animals are sentient beings*.
For more information, see Slaughter and Stunning on the European Commission’s website
KEY TERMS
* Depopulation: the process of killing animals for public health, animal health, animal welfare or environmental reasons under the supervision of the competent authorities.
* Sentient being: a creature that has the capability of experiencing physical and psychological pain and suffering.
ACT
Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 of 24 September 2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing (OJ L 303, 18.11.2009, pp. 1-30)
RELATED ACT
Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on systems restraining bovine animals by inversion or any unnatural position (COM(2016) 48 final of 8.2.2016)
last update 23.05.2016