The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995

Regulation 19

SCHEDULE 11 KILLING OF SURPLUS CHICKS AND EMBRYOS IN HATCHERY WASTE

Permitted methods of killing surplus chicks

1.  No person shall kill, or cause or permit to be killed, any surplus chick except by one of the following methods—

(a) use of a mechanical apparatus producing immediate death;

(b) exposure to gas mixtures; or

(c) dislocation of the neck.

Specific requirements for killing surplus chicks by use of a mechanical apparatus producing immediate death

2.  No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, any mechanical apparatus to kill any surplus chick unless—

(a) the apparatus contains rapidly rotating mechanically operated killing blades or projections; and

(b) the capacity of the apparatus is sufficient to ensure that every chick is killed immediately.

Specific requirements for killing surplus chicks by exposure to gas mixtures

3.—(1) No person shall kill, or cause or permit to be killed, any surplus chick by exposure to a gas mixture unless the chick is placed in the gas mixture and it remains in the gas mixture until it is dead.

(2) In this paragraph “gas mixture” means—

(a) an atmosphere with the highest obtainable concentration of carbon dioxide, supplied by a source of 100% carbon dioxide;

(b) a maximum of 2% oxygen by volume and 90% argon (or other inert gas) by volume in atmospheric air; or

(c) 25% to 30% carbon dioxide by volume and 60% argon (or other inert gas) by volume in atmospheric air.

Specific reqirements for killing surplus chicks by dislocation of the neck

4.  No person shall kill, or cause or permit to be killed, any surplus chick by dislocation of the neck unless the dislocation is accompanied by the severance of the spinal cord and blood vessels in the chick’s neck.

Permitted method of killing embryos in hatchery waste

5.  No person shall kill, or cause or permit to be killed, any embryo in hatchery waste, except by use of a mechanical apparatus producing immediate death.

Specific requirements for killing embryos in hatchery waste by use of a mechanical apparatus producing immediate death

6.  No person shall use, or cause or permit to be used, any mechanical apparatus to kill any embryo in hatchery waste unless—

(a) the apparatus contains rapidly rotating mechanically operated killing blades or projections; and

(b) the capacity of the apparatus is sufficient to ensure that every embryo is killed immediately.