Compassionate slaughter

The first piece of EU legislation on animal welfare, adopted in 1974, established rules on stunning animals before slaughter. The regulations on slaughter are seen as an important area for Europe-wide principles based on scientific evidence.

They have since been revised and are about to undergo yet another change with a proposal expected from the European Commission in October.

The existing 1993 directive states that animals must be spared pain and suffering during slaughter both inside and outside the slaughterhouse. It also set down rules on how animals should be restrained and held before slaughter, that competent authorities must check that the equipment used conforms to the rules and is in good repair. The personnel involved in the process must have "the knowledge and the skill to perform the tasks humanely and efficiently".

The Commission has decided to revise the directive because of further scientific and technical developments. Areas which are expected to come up for revision include listing new methods of stunning animals, such as gas-stunning for poultry or the use of inert gas for pigs. Setting standards for equipment for slaughter and restraint is also expected to feature and establish standards on the design of slaughterhouses. Whereas the 1993 directive made a general reference to the skills of the personnel involved in the process, the European Food Safety Authority has recommended that more specific knowledge and experience be required, which is already the case in some member states. The legislative review could also include more detailed requirements for the killing of animals for disease control than currently exist. Current legislation does not require the regular monitoring of how rules are implemented by staff at slaughterhouses. The legislation is expected to require slaughterhouse operators to carry out such checks.

The first piece of EU legislation on animal welfare, adopted in 1974, established rules on stunning animals before slaughter. The regulations on slaughter are seen as an important area for Europe-wide principles based on scientific evidence.