The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015

Regulation 27

SCHEDULE 3 ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR KILLING ANIMALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH RELIGIOUS RITES

PART 1 Introductory

Interpretation

1.  In this Schedule—

(a) “bovine animal” means an ox, bullock, cow, heifer, steer or calf;

(b) “bird” means a turkey, domestic fowl, guinea-fowl, duck, goose or quail;

(c) “killing in accordance with religious rites” means killing without the infliction of unnecessary suffering—

(i) by the Jewish method (Shechita) for the food of Jews by a Jew who is licensed by the Rabbinical Commission and holds a certificate for that purpose, or

(ii) by the Muslim method (Halal) for the food of Muslims by a Muslim who holds a certificate for that purpose.

General prohibition

2.  No person may kill an animal in accordance with religious rites without prior stunning unless it is a sheep, goat, bovine animal or bird killed in a slaughterhouse in accordance with this Schedule.

PART 2 Sheep, goats and bovine animals

Restraint of adult bovine animals

3.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), no person may kill an adult bovine animal in a slaughterhouse in accordance with religious rites without prior stunning unless the animal is individually restrained in an upright position in a restraining pen which has been approved in writing by the competent authority and which the competent authority is satisfied has been installed in such a manner as to ensure that it will operate efficiently.

(2) Approval may not be granted by the competent authority under sub-paragraph (1) unless the competent authority is satisfied that the pen is of such a size and design, and is able to be operated, so as to protect an adult bovine animal from avoidable pain, suffering, agitation, injuries or contusions while confined in it or while entering it and, in particular, unless the competent authority is satisfied that the pen—

(a) contains an effective means of restraining a bovine animal confined in it (including a suitable head restraint for that purpose);

(b) contains means of support which will take the weight of a bovine animal during and following killing in it;

(c) permits one bovine animal at a time to be confined in it without discomfort; and

(d) prevents any substantial movement of a bovine animal forwards, backwards or sideways once it has been placed in position for killing.

(3) A restraining pen approved under paragraph 3 of Schedule 12 to the 1995 Regulations will, on the coming into force of these Regulations, become an approved restraining pen for the purposes of sub-paragraphs (1) and (2).

Use and maintenance of restraining pens

4.  The business operator must ensure that—

(a) the means of restraining and supporting an adult bovine animal confined in a restraining pen described in paragraph 3(2)(a) and (b) are used in respect of any bovine animal confined in it;

(b) the restraining pen is kept in good working order; and

(c) if it has been modified after it has been approved by the competent authority, the restraining pen is not used again until a new approval is given by the competent authority.

Method of killing

5.  Any person who kills a sheep, goat or bovine animal in accordance with religious rites without prior stunning must—

(a) ensure it is killed by the severance of both its carotid arteries and jugular veins by rapid, uninterrupted movements of a hand-held knife; and

(b) immediately before killing, inspect the knife to be used to ensure it is—

(i) undamaged; and

(ii) of sufficient size and sharpness to kill the sheep, goat or bovine animal in the manner described in sub-paragraph (a).

Handling of sheep, goats and bovine animals during killing

6.—(1) The business operator and any person engaged in the killing of a sheep, goat or bovine animal in accordance with religious rites without prior stunning must ensure that—

(a) it is not placed in restraining equipment unless the person who is to carry out the killing is ready to make the incision immediately after it is placed in the equipment; and

(b) appropriate back-up stunning equipment is kept close to the restraining equipment for use in case of emergency and is immediately used where it is subjected to any avoidable pain, suffering or agitation or has any injuries or contusions.

(2) The business operator and any person engaged in the killing of a sheep, goat or bovine animal in accordance with religious rites without prior stunning must ensure that where it has not been stunned before bleeding, it is not shackled, hoisted or moved in any way until it is unconscious and in any event not before the expiry of—

(a) in the case of a sheep or a goat, a period of not less than 20 seconds; and

(b) in the case of a bovine animal, a period of not less than 30 seconds,

after it has been bled in the manner described in paragraph 5.

PART 3 Birds

Method of killing

7.  Any person engaged in the killing of a bird in accordance with religious rites without prior stunning must ensure—

(a) the bird is killed by the severance of both of its carotid arteries by rapid, uninterrupted movements of a hand-held knife; and

(b) the knife to be used for killing is—

(i) undamaged; and

(ii) of sufficient size and sharpness to kill each bird in the manner described in paragraph (a).

Handling birds during killing

8.  The business operator and any person engaged in the killing of a bird in accordance with religious rites without prior stunning must ensure that, where the bird has not been stunned before bleeding, no further dressing procedure or any electrical stimulation is performed on the bird if it presents any signs of life and in any event not before the expiry of—

(a) in the case of a turkey or goose, a period of not less than 2 minutes; and

(b) in the case of any other bird, a period of not less than 90 seconds,

after it has been bled in the manner described in paragraph 7.

PART 4 Rabbinical Commission

Membership

9.—(1) The Rabbinical Commission for the licensing of persons carrying out the killing of animals in accordance with the Jewish method (Shechita) must consist of a permanent chairman and nine other members.

(2) The permanent chairman must, by virtue of that office, be the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of Great Britain and the Commonwealth.

(3) Of the members of the Rabbinical Commission other than the permanent chairman—

(a) one must be appointed by the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue (London) as the vice-chairman;

(b) three must be appointed by the Beth Din appointed by the United Synagogue (London);

(c) two must be appointed by the Federation of Synagogues (London);

(d) one must be appointed by the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations (London); and

(e) two must be appointed by the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews to represent provincial congregations.

Supplementary

10.—(1) The functions of the Rabbinical Commission may be exercisable notwithstanding a vacancy amongst the members.

(2) The quorum of the Rabbinical Commission is four.