Slaughter

ABOUT THE ISSUE

The slaughter process is extremely stressful for the hundreds of millions of animals, and the billions of poultry that are killed for their meat in the EU each year. Between the farm and  the time of their death, they are exposed to major risks of stress or suffering, whereas, according to the legislation, they must be spared any avoidable excitement or pain at any stage.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION

From 1 January 2013 a new (EC) Regulation 1099/2009 will replace the previous directive 93/119/EC and lay down the main requirements to protect animals at time of killing. The main improvements will be: appointment of an animal welfare officer, certificate of competence for all personnel, compulsory monitoring of loss of consciousness when the animal is stunned or ritually slaughterd, obligation to follow Standard Operating Procedures, new technical and equipment requirements.

WHAT ARE WE CALLING FOR

• The phasing out of live-shackling, which involves hanging birds upside down in a shackle before killing in electrical waterbath stunners.
• The compulsory stunning of all animals before they are killed. Derogations exist currently for ritual slaughter, and they must be limited to religious customers only. If meat coming from non-stunned animals is sold on the domestic market, the consumers must be clearly informed.