United Kingdom Statutory Instruments

" (a) the shocks last no more than one second each, are adequately spaced out and are not used repeatedly if the animal fails to respond;".

" (c) for birds only, decapitation or dislocation of the neck;

(d) exposure of pigs and birds to gas mixtures at a slaughterhouse in accordance with Schedule 7; or

(e) exposure of birds to carbon dioxide or gas mixtures elsewhere than at a slaughterhouse or knacker's yard in accordance with Schedule 7A".

"bird" means any domestic fowl, turkey, pheasant, quail, partridge, goose, duck or guinea fowl;

"bird shed" means a building designed and constructed to house birds that has been sealed so as to be capable of containing the gas mixture mentioned in combination 1 in the table in Part V;

"breeder hen" means a domestic fowl which has reached laying maturity and is kept for production of eggs intended for hatching;

"chamber" means a bird shed or gas container in which end of lay hens, end of life breeder hens or birds are killed by exposure to gas or gas mixtures mentioned in the second column of the table in Part V;

"end of lay hen" means a laying hen no longer required for the production of eggs;

"end of life breeder hen" means a breeder hen no longer required for the production of hatching eggs;

"gas container" means a receptacle capable of containing the gas mixtures mentioned in combinations 2 or 3 in the table in Part V;

"gas mixture" means any of the combinations of gases listed in Part V;

"laying hen" means a domestic fowl which has reached laying maturity and is kept for production of eggs not intended for hatching;

(a) the owner's name and address;

(b) the address of the premises at which the killings will take place;

(c) the date on which the killings will take place;

(d) which of the combinations of gas and chamber listed in the table in Part V of this Schedule is intended to be used for the killings;

(e) the number and age of hens being killed and whether kept as laying or breeder hens.

    (3) Part IV of this Schedule applies to the killing of end of lay hens and end of life breeder hens permitted by this paragraph.

(a) an event occurs in Great Britain that makes the movement of birds from the premises where they have been kept to a slaughterhouse impracticable; and

(b) it is foreseeable that the welfare of the birds will be compromised as a result of the restrictions on their movement.

    (2) An authorisation issued under this paragraph—

(a) must be in writing;

(b) may be general or specific;

(c) is subject to the conditions set out in sub-paragraph (3);

(d) may include such other conditions as may be specified in the authorisation; and

(e) may at any time be amended, suspended or revoked by notice in writing—


(i) in the case of a general authorisation, by publication in such manner as the Secretary of State sees fit, and

(ii) in the case of a specific authorisation, by service on the individual to whom the authorisation was granted.

    (3) The conditions referred to in sub-paragraph (2)(c) are that—

(a) the occupier of the premises takes all reasonable measures to avoid welfare problems in birds affected by restrictions on their movement; and

(b) following an inspection by him, a veterinary surgeon has confirmed in writing that the welfare of the birds affected by restrictions on their movement will be gravely compromised within 7 days from the date of the inspection.

    (4) Part IV of this Schedule applies to the killing of birds authorised by this paragraph.

    (5) No person shall kill birds by exposure to gas mixtures elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse except where authorised to do so in accordance with this paragraph.

(a) designed, adapted, constructed, and maintained so as to avoid injury to the hen or bird;

(b) fitted with an apparatus that can deliver gas mixtures to the chamber in accordance with the combinations listed in the table in Part V of this Schedule;

(c) fitted with devices which—


(i) measure and display the maximum concentration by volume of oxygen in the gas mixture mentioned in combination 3 in that table or the minimum concentration by volume of carbon dioxide mentioned in combination 1 or 2 of that table as a percentage at the point of minimum concentration in the chamber;

(ii) where combination 3 in that table is used, give clearly visible or audible warning signals where the final concentration by volume of oxygen rises above 5% for more than 30 seconds; and

(iii) where combination 1 or 2 in that table is used, give clearly visible or audible warning signals where the final concentration by volume of carbon dioxide falls below 45% for more than 30 seconds; and



(d) fitted with a means of visually monitoring birds or hens in the chamber.