ANNEX I
ANNEX II
LAYOUT, CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OF SLAUGHTERHOUSES(as referred to in Article 14)
1.All lairage facilities
1.1.
Ventilation systems shall be designed, constructed and maintained so that the welfare of the animals is constantly ensured, taking into account the expected range of weather conditions.
1.2.
Where mechanical means of ventilation are required, provision shall be made for an alarm and emergency back-up facilities in the event of breakdown.
1.3.
Lairage facilities shall be designed and constructed so as to minimise the risk of injuries to the animals and the occurrence of sudden noises.
1.4.
Lairage facilities shall be designed and constructed so as to facilitate the inspection of the animals. Adequate fixed or portable lighting shall be provided to enable the inspection of animals at any time.
2.Lairage facilities for animals not delivered in containers
2.1.Pens, passageways and races shall be designed and constructed to allow:
- (a)
the animals to move freely in the required direction using their behavioural characteristics and without distraction;
- (b)
pigs or sheep to walk side by side, except in the case of races leading to the restraining equipment.
2.2.
Ramps and bridges shall be equipped with lateral protection to ensure that animals cannot fall off.
2.3.
The water supply system in pens shall be designed, constructed and maintained so as to allow all animals at all times access to clean water without being injured or limited in their movements.
2.4.
When a waiting pen is used, it shall be constructed with a level floor and solid sides, between the holding pens and the race leading to the point of stunning and designed so that animals cannot be trapped or trampled.
2.5.
Floors shall be built and maintained in such a way as to minimise the risk of animals slipping, falling or injuring their feet.
2.6.
Where slaughterhouses have field lairages without natural shelter or shade, appropriate protection from adverse weather conditions shall be provided. In the absence of such protection, these lairages shall not be used under adverse weather conditions. In the absence of a natural source of water, drinking facilities shall be provided.
3.Restraining equipment and facilities
3.1.Restraining equipment and facilities shall be designed, built and maintained to:
- (a)
optimise the application of the stunning or killing method;
- (b)
prevent injury or contusions to the animals;
- (c)
minimise struggle and vocalisation when animals are restrained;
- (d)
minimise the time of restraint.
3.2.
For animals of bovine species, restraining boxes used in conjunction with a pneumatic captive bolt shall be fitted with a device that restricts both the lateral and vertical movement of the head of the animal.
4.Electrical stunning equipment (except waterbath stunning equipment)
4.1.
Electrical stunning equipment shall be fitted with a device which displays and records the details of the electrical key parameters for each animal stunned. The device shall be placed so as to be clearly visible to the personnel and shall give a clearly visible and audible warning if the duration of exposure falls below the required level. These records shall be kept for at least one year.
4.2.
Automatic electrical stunning equipment associated to a restrainer shall deliver a constant current.
5.Waterbath stunning equipment
5.1.
Shackle lines shall be designed and positioned in such a way that birds suspended on them are clear of any obstruction and that disturbance to the animals is reduced to a minimum.
5.2.
Shackle lines shall be designed in such a way that birds suspended on them will not remain hung conscious longer than one minute. However ducks, geese and turkeys shall not remain hung conscious longer than two minutes.
5.3.
The whole length of the shackle line up to the point of entry into the scald tank shall be easily accessible in case animals have to be removed from the slaughter line.
5.4.
The size and shape of the metal shackles shall be appropriate to the size of the legs of poultry to be slaughtered so that electrical contact can be secured without causing pain.
5.5.
Waterbath stunning equipment shall be equipped with an electrically insulated entry ramp and designed and maintained so as to prevent overflow of water at the entrance.
5.6.
The waterbath shall be designed in such a way that the level of immersion of the birds can be easily adapted.
5.7.
The electrodes in waterbath stunning equipment shall extend the full length of the waterbath. The waterbath shall be designed and maintained in such a way that when the shackles pass over the water they are in continuous contact with the earthed rubbing bar.
5.8.
A system in contact with the breast of the birds shall be built from the point of shackling until the birds enter the waterbath stunner in order to calm them down.
5.9.
Access to the waterbath stunning equipment shall be available to allow the bleeding of birds that have been stunned and remain in the waterbath as a result of a breakdown or delay in the line.
5.10.
Waterbath stunning equipment shall be fitted with a device which displays and records the details of the electrical key parameters used. These records shall be kept for at least one year.
6.Gas stunning equipment for pigs and poultry
6.1.Gas stunners, including conveyor belts, shall be designed and built to:
- (a)
optimise the application of stunning by gas;
- (b)
prevent injury or contusions to the animals;
- (c)
minimise struggle and vocalisation when animals are restrained.
6.2.
The gas stunner shall be equipped to measure continuously, display and record the gas concentration and the time of exposure, and to give a clearly visible and audible warning if the concentration of gas falls below the required level. The device shall be placed so as to be clearly visible to the personnel. These records shall be kept for at least one year.
6.3.
The gas stunner shall be designed in a manner that, even at the maximum permitted throughput, the animals are able to lie down without being stacked on each other.
ANNEX III
OPERATIONAL RULES FOR SLAUGHTERHOUSES(as referred to in Article 15)
1.The arrival, moving and handling of animals
1.1.
The welfare conditions of each consignment of animals shall be systematically assessed by the animal welfare officer or a person reporting directly to the animal welfare officer upon arrival in order to identify the priorities, in particular by determining which animals have specific welfare needs and the corresponding measures to be taken.
1.2.Animals shall be unloaded as quickly as possible after arrival and subsequently slaughtered without undue delay.
Mammals, except rabbits and hares, which are not taken directly upon arrival to the place of slaughter, shall be lairaged.
Animals which have not been slaughtered within 12 hours of their arrival shall be fed, and subsequently given moderate amounts of food at appropriate intervals. In such cases, the animals shall be provided an appropriate amount of bedding or equivalent material which guarantees a level of comfort appropriate to the species and the number of animals concerned. This material shall guarantee an efficient drainage or ensure adequate absorption of urine and faeces.
1.3.Containers in which animals are transported shall be kept in good order, handled with care, in particular if they have a perforated or flexible bottom, and:
- (a)
shall not be thrown, dropped, or knocked over;
- (b)
where possible, shall be loaded and unloaded horizontally and mechanically;
Whenever possible animals shall be unloaded individually.
1.4.When containers are put one on top of the other, the necessary precautions shall be taken:
- (a)
to limit urine and faeces falling on the animals placed underneath;
- (b)
to ensure stability of the containers;
- (c)
to ensure that ventilation is not impeded.
1.5.For the purpose of slaughter, unweaned animals, lactating dairy animals, females having given birth during the journey or animals delivered in containers shall be given priority over other types of animal. If this is not possible, arrangements shall be made so as to relieve them from their suffering, in particular by:
- (a)
milking dairy animals at intervals of not more than 12 hours;
- (b)
providing appropriate conditions for suckling and the welfare of the newborn animal in the case of a female having given birth;
- (c)
providing water in the case of animals delivered in containers.
1.6.
Mammals, except rabbits and hares, which are not taken directly to the place of slaughter after being unloaded, shall have drinking water available to them from appropriate facilities at all times.
1.7.
A steady supply of animals for stunning and killing shall be ensured in order to prevent animal handlers rushing animals from the holding pens.
1.8.It shall be prohibited to:
- (a)
strike or kick the animals;
- (b)
apply pressure to any particularly sensitive part of the body in such a way as to cause animals avoidable pain or suffering;
- (c)
lift or drag the animals by the head, ears, horns, legs, tail or fleece, or handle them in such a way as to cause them pain or suffering;
however, the prohibition on lifting animals by their legs shall not apply to poultry, rabbits and hares;
- (d)
use prods or other implements with pointed ends;
- (e)
twist, crush or break the tails of animals or grasp the eyes of any animal.
1.9.
The use of instruments which administer electric shocks shall be avoided as far as possible. In any case, such instruments shall only be used for adult bovine animals and adult pigs which refuse to move, and only when they have room ahead of them in which to move. The shocks shall last no longer than one second, be adequately spaced and shall only be applied to the muscles of the hindquarters. Shocks shall not be used repeatedly if the animal fails to respond.
1.10.Animals shall not be tied by the horns, antlers or nose rings and their legs shall not be tied together. When animals need to be tied, ropes, tethers or other means used shall be:
- (a)
strong enough not to break;
- (b)
such as to allow the animals, if necessary, to lie down and to eat and drink;
- (c)
designed in such a way as to eliminate any danger of strangulation or injury, and so as to allow animals to be quickly released.
1.11.
Animals which are unable to walk shall not be dragged to the place of slaughter, but shall be killed where they lie.
2.Additional rules for mammals in lairage (except for rabbits and hares)
2.1.
Each animal shall have enough space to stand up, lie down and, except for cattle kept individually, turn around.
2.2.
Animals shall be kept securely in the lairage and care shall be taken to prevent them from escaping and to protect them from predators.
2.3.
For each pen it shall be indicated with a visible sign the date and time of arrival and, except for cattle kept individually, the maximum number of animals to be kept.
2.4.
Every day that the slaughterhouse operates, before any animal arrives, isolation pens for animals that require specific care shall be prepared and kept ready for immediate use.
2.5.
The condition and state of health of the animals in a lairage shall be regularly inspected by the animal welfare officer or a person having appropriate competence.
3.Bleeding of animals
3.1.
Where one person is responsible for the stunning, shackling, hoisting and bleeding of animals, that person shall carry out all those operations consecutively on one animal before carrying out any of them on another animal.
3.2.
In case of simple stunning or slaughter in accordance with Article 4(4), the two carotid arteries or the vessels from which they arise shall be systematically severed. Electrical stimulation shall only be performed once the unconsciousness of the animal has been verified. Further dressing or scalding shall only be performed once the absence of signs of life of the animal has been verified.
3.3.
Birds shall not be slaughtered by means of automatic neck cutters unless it can be ascertained whether or not the neck cutters have effectively severed both blood vessels. When neck cutters have not been effective the bird shall be slaughtered immediately.
ANNEX IV
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN ACTIVITIES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR EXAMINATION OF COMPETENCE(as referred to in Article 21)
Slaughter operations listed in Article 7(2) | Subjects for examination of competence |
---|---|
All operations listed in Article 7(2)(a) to (g). | Animal behaviour, animal suffering, consciousness and sensibility, stress in animals. |
| Practical aspects of handling and restraining animals. Knowledge of manufacturers’ instructions on the type of restraint equipments used in case of mechanical restraint |
| |
| Practical aspects of stunning techniques and knowledge of manufacturers’ instructions on the type of stunning equipments used. Back-up stunning and/or killing methods. Basic maintenance and cleaning of stunning and/or killing equipment. |
| Monitoring the effectiveness of stunning. Back-up stunning and/or killing methods. |
| Practical aspects of handling and restraining animals. Monitoring the effectiveness of stunning. |
| Monitoring the effectiveness of stunning and the absence of signs of life. Back-up stunning and/or killing methods. Appropriate use and maintenance of bleeding knives. |
| Appropriate use and maintenance of bleeding knives. Monitoring the absence of signs of life. |
Killing operations listed in Article 7(3) | Subjects for examination of competence |
---|---|
the killing of fur animals. | Practical aspects of handling and restraining animals. Practical aspects of stunning techniques and knowledge of manufacturers’ instructions on stunning equipments. Back-up stunning and/or killing methods. Monitoring the effectiveness of stunning and confirmation of death. Basic maintenance and cleaning of stunning and/or killing equipment. |