The Slaughter of Animals (Humane Conditions) Regulations 1990

PART II

Construction and equipment of slaughterhouses, knacker’s yards and lairages

3.  Where, at any time after 5th July 1990, any premises are constructed or adapted for use as a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard it shall be the duty of the occupier of those premises to ensure that facilities are provided there for the purpose of unloading animals out of vehicles directly into a lairage and that those facilities consist of a fixed ramp or other facilities which are of a height and design suitable for that purpose; and it shall be the duty of such person to ensure that any fixed ramps or other facilities which are so provided are fitted with side railings (or some other means of protection) designed and constructed so as to prevent animals from falling off them.

4.—(1) The occupier of a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard shall ensure that the premises are constructed and maintained so as to prevent any injury being caused to any animals confined there.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1) above, it shall be the duty of the occupier of a slaughterhouse, or of a knacker’s yard where animals are held prior to slaughter, to ensure that—

(a) the slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard contains a suitable lairage which is—

(i) adequate in size and construction for the number of animals confined there,

(ii) constructed so as to provide shelter from the sun and adverse weather for every animal confined there,

(iii) constructed so as to enable it to be thoroughly cleansed,

(iv) provided with racks, mangers or other equipment for containing food and with drinking facilities which (in all cases) are suitable for the feeding and watering of all the animals confined in the lairage, are easily accessible to such animals, and where practicable, are fixed, and

(v) adequately ventilated and adequately lighted for the proper conduct of all the operations carried on there;

(b) there are no sharp edges or protrusions in the slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard with which any animals may come into contact;

(c) the walls of the slaughterhall are constructed, and the floor of the slaughterhall is channelled, so as to enable any blood and waste matter to be effectively swilled away;

(d) the slaughterhall is adequately lighted for the proper conduct of all operations carried on there; and

(e) the place in the slaughterhall at which any sheep, goats or calves are slaughtered is sited so as to minimise the amount of handling that is necessary to move such animals from any lairage or holding pen in which they are confined to that place.