More rigorous protection of animals at slaughter

Animals must not suffer any avoidable distress or pain at the time of their killing. Such is the tenet of the EU's new animal welfare legislation, as agreed by agriculture ministers meeting on 22 June. These rules are among the strictest worldwide.

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Each year, several billion poultry and nearly 360 million pigs, sheep, goats and cattle are killed in EU slaughterhouses. In addition, mass culls are sometimes necessary for the control of epidemics.

Until now there have been discrepancies in welfare standards between the member states. The new regulation will introduce a single set of rules that must be applied uniformly by animal handlers, slaughtermen and official inspectors all over the EU and even by non-EU trading partners.

Some of its main elements are:

• Animals must be stunned before slaughter, using approved methods based on sound scientific assessment.

• The efficiency of stunning techniques is regularly monitored.

• Killing may only be carried out by properly trained and certified personnel.

• Animal welfare must be taken into account in the design of slaughterhouses.

• An animal welfare officer is appointed for each slaughterhouse.

The regulation will not apply, for instance, to scientific experiments or hunting, or when a farmer slaughters poultry or rabbits for his own consumption. Cultural traditions are also excluded and there are specially adapted rules for religious rites.

More information:
Council press release (pdf) 
Council webcast of press conference 
Animal welfare at the time of slaughter - Commission website 
World Organisation for Animal Health website