Office of Public Sector Information

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations, which apply in relation to Wales, amend the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 (SI 1995/731). The 1995 Regulations give effect to Council Directive 93/119/EC on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing (OJ No. L 340, 31.12.93, p.21).

These Regulations amend Schedules 1, 3, 4, 6 and 9 to the 1995 Regulations. These Regulations also insert a new Schedule 7A into the 1995 Regulations

The amendment to Schedule 1 requires a person whose licence has been suspended or revoked to surrender the licence to the Food Standards Agency.

The amendment to Schedule 3 further limits the use of instruments which administer electric shocks to adult bovines and adult pigs.

The amendment to Schedule 4 shortens the time that birds can be suspended before being stunned or killed.

The amendments to Schedule 6 removes the requirement that certain animals are not bled within sight of any other such animals.

The new Schedule 7A permits the killing of end of lay hens and end of life breeder hens by exposure to gas elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse. The Schedule also allows the Welsh Ministers to authorise the killing of birds by exposure to gas elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse.

The amendment to Schedule 9 permits the use of pneumatic or cartridge operated percussive devices producing immediate death for the slaughter or killing of birds for the purpose of disease control.

A Regulatory Impact Assessment has been produced for this instrument. Copies are available from the Department for Sustainability and Rural Development, Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ.