UK Statutory Instrument
2015
United Kingdom
The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015
At a glance
What's here
1 practical guide
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
1 guidesWhat this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
Browse 106 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Interpretation
General requirements
Inspection of animals
Animals which have experienced pain or suffering and unweaned animals
Animals delivered other than in containers
The driving of animals
Moving animals with care
Instruments for guiding animals
Lairaging of animals
General requirement
Restraining bovine animals
Scope
Suspending poultry
Shackle lines
Restraining operations
General requirements
Penetrative captive bolt
Non-penetrative captive bolt
Percussive blow to the head
Electrical stunning other than by waterbath
Electrical stunning by waterbath
Exposure to gas – pigs
General requirements
Exposure to gas – poultry
Bleeding or pithing
Horses
Animals delivered other than in containers
Lairages other than field lairages
Field lairages
Shackle lines
Stunning pens
Facilities for horses
Interpretation
Facilities for horses
General requirements
Inspection of animals
Animals which have experienced pain or suffering and unweaned animals
Emergency killing
Animals delivered other than in containers
The lifting or dragging of animals
The driving of animals
Moving animals with care
Instruments to guide animals
Scope
Instruments to make animals move
Treatment of animals
Lairaging of animals
Handling of animals delivered in containers
Killing of animals delivered in containers
Poultry awaiting killing at place of purchase
General requirement
Restraining bovine animals
Electric currents
Tying legs
Exemptions
Suspending animals
Shackle lines
Restraining operations
General requirements
Penetrative captive bolt
Non-penetrative captive bolt
Percussive blow to the head
Electrical stunning other than by waterbath
Electrical stunning by waterbath
Exposure to gas – prohibition
General requirements
Exposure to gas – pigs
Exposure to gas – poultry
Bleeding or pithing
Horses
Surplus chicks in hatchery waste
Animals delivered other than in containers
Lairages other than field lairages
Field lairages
Shackle lines
Stunning pens
Interpretation
Supplementary
General prohibition
Restraint of adult bovine animals
Use and maintenance of restraining pens
Method of killing
Handling of sheep, goats and bovine animals during killing
Method of killing
Handling birds during killing
Membership
Interpretation
Scope
Exemptions
Humane killing
Poultry, rabbits or hares bled for private domestic consumption
Firearms Act 1968
Slaughterhouses Act 1974
Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
The Meat (Official Controls Charges) (England) Regulations 2009
The Gangmasters Licensing (Exclusions) Regulations 2013
The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Consequential Amendments) (Wales) Regulations 2014
Operations in a slaughterhouse immediately before 1st January 2013
Simplified procedure for persons who have three years’ professional experience
Animals delivered other than in containers
Lairages other than field lairages
Field lairages
Shackle lines
Electrical stunning other than by waterbath
Electrical stunning by waterbath
Exposure to gas
Browse 47 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Citation, extent, application and commencement
Expiry
Interpretation
The competent authority
Requirement for a certificate or temporary certificate
Operations which require a certificate or temporary certificate
Certificates
Conditions for a certificate
Temporary certificates
Conditions for a temporary certificate
Grant of certificates and temporary certificates
Requirement for a licence
Operations which require a licence
Exceptions to the requirement for a licence
Licences
Conditions for a licence
Grant of licences
Refusal to grant a certificate, temporary certificate or licence
Suspension or revocation of a certificate, temporary certificate or licence
Modification of a certificate or licence
Refusal to modify a certificate or licence
Appeals
WASK licences
Fees
Additional requirements for slaughterhouses
Additional requirements for killing animals other than in slaughterhouses
Additional requirements for killing animals in accordance with religious rites
Killing animals other than those to which the
Depopulation operations
Offences: general
Obstruction offences
Offences by bodies corporate
Penalties
Inspectors
Power to enter premises
Warrants
Power to inspect and seize
Enforcement notices
Appeals against enforcement notices
Power of local authority to prosecute
Time limit for prosecutions
Notices
Consequential and supplementary amendments and revocation
Transitional provision: certificates
Transitional provision: slaughterhouses (layout, construction and equipment)
Review
Revocations
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- FSA: applying for approval of a meat establishment (opens in a new tab) from FSA Detailed Guidance
- Animal by-products: categories, approval, hygiene and disposal (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Food Standards Scotland (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
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