The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014

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

• (a) the bird is slaughtered 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 slaughter is—

• (i) undamaged; and

• (ii) of sufficient size and sharpness to slaughter each bird in the manner described in sub-paragraph (a).

Handling birds after slaughter

8

The business operator and any person engaged in the slaughter of a bird in accordance with religious rites without prior stunning shall ensure that, where the bird has not been stunned before bleeding, no further dressing procedure or any electrical stimulation is performed on the bird before it is unconscious 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.

SCHEDULE 4 — KILLING ANIMALS OTHER THAN THOSE TO WHICH THE EU REGULATION APPLIES

Interpretation

1

In this Schedule—

• (a) “animal” means—

• (i) reptiles and amphibians;

• (ii) invertebrate animals; or

• (iii) poultry, rabbits or hares killed elsewhere than in a slaughterhouse by their owner for the owner's private domestic consumption; and

• (b) “killing”, “poultry”, “restraint” and “stunning” have the same meanings as in the EU Regulation.

Scope

2

Subject to paragraph 3, this Schedule applies to the killing of animals which are bred or kept for the production of meat, skin or other products.

Exemptions

3

This Schedule does not apply to animals which are killed—

• (a) during scientific experiments carried out under the supervision of the Department of Health;

• (b) during hunting or recreational fishing activities; or

• (c) during sporting events.

Humane killing

4

• (1) No person engaged in the restraint, stunning or killing of an animal may—

• (a) cause any avoidable pain, distress or suffering to that animal; or

• (b) permit that animal to sustain any avoidable pain, distress or suffering.

• (2) No person may engage in the restraint, stunning or killing of an animal unless that person has the knowledge and skill necessary to perform those operations humanely and efficiently.

Poultry, rabbits or hares bled for private domestic consumption

5

Poultry, rabbits or hares which are bled by their owner outside a slaughterhouse for the owner's private domestic consumption shall be—

• (a) stunned before bleeding in accordance with the methods and specific requirements in Chapters I and II of Annex I and, where appropriate, Part 5 of Schedule 2; and

• (b) bled after stunning without delay.

SCHEDULE 5 — PROVISIONS OF THE EU REGULATION

Column 1 Provision of the EU Regulation containing welfare requirement	Column 2 Subject matter
Article 3(1)	General requirement to spare an animal avoidable pain, distress or suffering.
Article 3(2)	Measures to protect animals from avoidable pain, distress or suffering.
Article 3(3)	Facilities for killing and related operations.
Article 4(1) and Annex I	Stunning methods.
Article 5(1)	Checks on stunning.
Article 5(2)	Checks on animals slaughtered in accordance with religious rites.
Article 6(1) and (2)	Standard operating procedures.
Article 7(1)	Level of competence.
Article 7(2)	Certificate of competence.
Article 7(3)	Killing of fur animals.
Article 8	Sale of restraining or stunning equipment.
Article 9(1)	Maintenance of restraining or stunning equipment.
Article 9(2)	Back-up stunning equipment.
Article 9(3)	Placing of animals in restraining equipment.
Article 12	Meat imported from third countries.
Article 14(1) and Annex II	Layout and construction of, and equipment in, slaughterhouses.
Article 15(1) and Annex III	Handling and restraining operations.
Article 15(2)	Restraint of animals slaughtered in accordance with religious rites.
Article 15(3)	Prohibited methods of restraint.
Article 16(1) to (4)	Monitoring procedures.
Article 17 (1) to (5)	Animal Welfare Officer.
Article 19	Emergency killing.

SCHEDULE 6 — CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS

Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004

1

• (1) The Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 is amended as follows—

• (2) In article 2(2) (interpretation), for the definition of “slaughtering instrument” substitute—

“slaughtering instrument” means a firearm which is specially designed or adapted for the instantaneous slaughter or killing of animals or for the instantaneous stunning of animals with a view to slaughtering or killing them;

• (3) In Schedule 1, paragraph 3 (slaughter of animals)—

• (a) in sub-paragraph (1), for “licensed to slaughter animals” substitute “ who is the holder of a certificate of competence to slaughter animals ”; and

• (b) in sub-paragraph (3), for the definition of “licensed” substitute—

“certificate of competence to slaughter animals” means a certificate of competence issued in respect of an operation specified in regulation 6 of the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014;

The Meat (Official Controls Charges) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

2

• (1) The Meat (Official Controls Charges) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 are amended as follows—

• (2) In regulation 2(1) (interpretation), in paragraph (b) of the definition “controls”—

• (a) before “at slaughterhouses”, insert “ pursuant to Regulation 854/2004, ”; and

• (b) for “the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996” substitute “ Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 and the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 ”.

Gangmasters Licensing (Exclusions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014

3

In Part 2 of the Schedule to the Gangmasters Licensing (Exclusions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 , for paragraph 12(a) substitute—

(a) a certificate of competence under the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 to slaughter or kill animals or carry out related operations; or

SCHEDULE 7 — TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS: CERTIFICATES

PART 1 — SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE FOR PERSONS WHO HAVE THREE YEARS' PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Application

1

• (1) This part applies to a person who applies for a certificate before 8th December 2015 who, on the date of application, has at least three years' professional experience in relation to the operation, category of animal and (where appropriate) type of equipment in respect of which the certificate is sought.

• (2) A person to whom this part applies is not required to comply with regulation 8(b) if that person—

• (a) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the competent authority that the person has, at the date of application, at least three years' professional experience in relation to the operation, category of animal and (where appropriate) type of equipment in respect of which the certificate is sought; and

• (b) provides a written declaration from an authorised veterinary surgeon that, in the opinion of the authorised veterinary surgeon, the person is a fit and proper person to hold a certificate.

PART 2 — SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURE FOR PERSONS WHO DO NOT HAVE THREE YEARS' PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: TRANSITIONAL CERTIFICATE

Transitional certificates

2

This Part applies to a person who is unable to apply for a certificate under paragraph 1 of Part 1 by reason of the fact that that person at the time of application does not have at least three years' professional experience in relation to the operation, category of animal and (where appropriate) type of equipment in respect of which the certificate is sought, but who can be reasonably expected to accrue three years' experience by 8th December 2015.

3

A person to whom paragraph 2 applies may apply for a transitional certificate.

4

A person to whom paragraph 3 applies is not required to comply with regulation 8(b) if that person—

• (a) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the competent authority that at the date of application the person has had professional experience in relation to the operation, category of animal and (where appropriate) type of equipment in respect of which the certificate is sought; and

• (b) provides a written declaration from a veterinary surgeon that, in the opinion of the veterinary surgeon, the person is a fit and proper person to hold a transitional certificate.

Conditions for a transitional certificate

5

An applicant for a transitional certificate shall—

• (a) not be less than 16 years old;

• (b) submit a written declaration stating that they have committed no serious infringement of Community law and/or national law on the protection of animals in the three years preceding the date of application for a transitional certificate; and

• (c) provide written details if the applicant has—

• (i) been convicted of an offence concerning the welfare of animals;

• (ii) been refused a licence under the 1996 Regulations; or

• (iii) had any such licence to kill animals revoked or suspended.

Grant of a transitional certificate

6

• (1) The competent authority shall grant a transitional certificate if—

• (a) the applicant meets the conditions in paragraph 5; and

• (b) it is satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a transitional certificate.

• (2) An applicant granted a certificate under sub-paragraph (1) shall be subject to continuous assessment by an authorised veterinary surgeon and shall “work under the supervision and guidance of” an authorised veterinary surgeon.

Withdrawal of transitional certificate and review

7

• (1) A transitional certificate may be withdrawn at any time by the competent authority if an authorised veterinary surgeon declares that the holder of the certificate is not a fit and proper person to hold a certificate.

• (2) The holder of a certificate which is withdrawn under sub-paragraph (1) has a right to make representations to the competent authority as if the holder were a person aggrieved by a decision of the competent authority under regulation 16.

Period of validity of a transitional certificate

8

A transitional certificate shall cease to be valid after 8th December 2015.

SCHEDULE 8 — TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS: SLAUGHTERHOUSES

Animals delivered other than in containers

1

The business operator shall ensure that—

• (a) bridges, ramps or gangways are fitted with sides, railings or some other means of protection to prevent animals falling off them; and

• (b) all passageways are constructed to minimise the risk of injury to an animal and arranged to take account of the gregarious tendencies of the animals which use them.

Lairages other than field lairages

2

The business operator shall ensure that a lairage other than a field lairage has—

• (a) a floor which minimises the risk of slipping and which does not cause injury to any animal which is in contact with it;

• (b) where ventilation is provided other than naturally, a replacement means of maintaining adequate ventilation available for use if the original source of ventilation fails;

• (c) adequate lighting (whether fixed or portable) to enable the animals to be thoroughly inspected at any time; and

• (d) drinking facilities adequate in number and size for the watering of animals confined in the lairage, fixed where practicable, and constructed and placed so that they are easily accessible to all the animals, can readily be filled and cannot readily be fouled.

Field lairages

3

The business operator shall ensure that a field lairage—

• (a) if it is without natural shelter or shade and is used during adverse weather conditions, has appropriate protection against such conditions for any animal using it;

• (b) has adequate lighting (whether fixed or portable) to enable the animals to be thoroughly inspected at any time; and

• (c) is provided with drinking facilities adequate in number and size for the watering of animals confined in the lairage, fixed where practicable, and constructed and placed so that they are easily accessible to all the animals, can readily be filled and cannot readily be fouled.

Shackle lines

4

In the case of a slaughterhouse where poultry are killed, the business operator shall ensure that—

• (a) any shackle line is designed and positioned in such a way that poultry suspended on it are kept clear of any obstruction and disturbance is reduced to a minimum;

• (b) no poultry are suspended for more than 3 minutes in the case of a turkey or 2 minutes in other cases before being stunned; and

• (c) the whole length of the shackle line up to the point of entry into the scald tank is immediately accessible to any person so that poultry may if necessary receive attention.

Electrical stunning other than by waterbath

5

No person may use electrodes to stun an animal individually unless the apparatus—

• (a) incorporates an audible or visible device indicating the length of time of its application to an animal; and

• (b) is connected to a device indicating the voltage and the current under load, positioned so as to be clearly visible to the operator.

Electrical stunning by waterbath

6

No person may use a waterbath stunner unless—

• (a) the electrode which is immersed in the water extends the length of the waterbath; and

• (b) the waterbath stunner does not overflow at the entrance or, if an overflow is unavoidable, measures are taken to ensure that no poultry receive an electrical shock before they are stunned.

Exposure to gas

7

No person may stun pigs or poultry by exposure to gas unless the gas stunner provided for that purpose, including any equipment used for conveying the pigs or poultry through the gas, is—

• (a) designed, constructed and maintained so as to avoid any injury to a pig or bird; and

• (b) equipped with devices to—

• (i) measure and continuously display the required concentration of gas (in accordance with Table 3 of Chapter I of Annex I); and

• (ii) give clearly visible and audible warning signals if the gas concentration falls below the required level (in accordance with Table 3 of Chapter I of Annex I).

SCHEDULE 9 — REVOCATIONS

Column 1 Regulations revoked	Column 2 References	Column 3 Extent of revocation
The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996	S.R. 1996 No. 558	The whole of the Regulations.
The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000	S.R. 2000 No. 76	The whole of the Regulations.
The Food Standards Act 1999 (Transitional and Consequential Provisions and Savings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000	S.R. 2000 No. 78	Regulation 10(1) and Schedule 8, Part I.
The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001	S.R. 2001 No. 66	The whole of the Regulations.
Restriction on Pithing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2001	S.R. 2001 No. 186	Regulation 4.
The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002	S.R. 2002 No. 304	The whole of the Regulations.
The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004	S.R. 2004 No. 209	The whole of the Regulations.
The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008	S.R. 2008 No. 277	The whole of the Regulations.
The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011	S.R. 2011 No. 407	The whole of the Regulations.

Signed

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on 8th April 2014

Geraldine Fee — A senior officer of the — Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

Footnotes

[^f00001]: S.I. 2000/2812

[^f00002]: 1972 c.68; section 2(2) was amended by section 27(1)(a) of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c.51) and section 3(3) of the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 (c.7)

[^f00003]: O.J. No. L 303, 18.11.2009, p. 1

[^f00004]: S.R. 1996 No. 558, as amended by S.R. 2000 No. 76, S.R. 2000 No. 78, S.R. 2001 No. 66, S.R. 2001 No. 186, S.R. 2002 No. 304, S.R. 2004 No. 209, S.R. 2008 No. 277 and S.R. 2011 No. 407.

[^f00005]: O.J. No. L 303, 18.11.2009, p. 1

[^f00006]: Ofqual, a non-ministerial Government Deptartment, was established by section 127 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c.22). The matters in relation to which Ofqual has functions are set out in part 7 of that Act and include the regulation of vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.

[^f00007]: RCVS was established by Royal Charter in 1844 and is responsible for the registration of veterinary surgeons and the regulation of their education, ethical and clinical standards.

[^f00008]: 2011 c.16 (N.I)

[^f00009]: 1966 c.36; section 2 was amended by S.I. 2003/2919, Article 12 and the Schedule, paragraph 1 and S.I. 2008/1824, Article 2 and the Schedule, paragraph 2(a).

[^f00010]: S.I. 1995 No. 731

[^f00011]: 1954 c.33 (N.I.)

[^f00012]: 1981 No. 1675 (N.I. 26)

[^f00013]: S.I. 1981/1115 (N.I. 22). as amended by S.I. 1984/702 (N.I. 2) Article 17, S.I. 1994/1891 (N.I. 6) Articles 22 and 23, and 2010 (c.1) Section 19.

[^f00014]: S.I. 2004/702 (N.I. 3)

[^f00015]: S.R. 2009 No. 247

[^f00016]: S.R. 2014 No. 162

Editorial notes

[^c22089201]: S.I. 2000/2812

[^c22089211]: 1972 c.68; section 2(2) was amended by section 27(1)(a) of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c.51) and section 3(3) of the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008 (c.7)

[^c22089221]: O.J. No. L 303, 18.11.2009, p. 1

[^c22089231]: S.R. 1996 No. 558, as amended by S.R. 2000 No. 76, S.R. 2000 No. 78, S.R. 2001 No. 66, S.R. 2001 No. 186, S.R. 2002 No. 304, S.R. 2004 No. 209, S.R. 2008 No. 277 and S.R. 2011 No. 407.

[^c22089241]: O.J. No. L 303, 18.11.2009, p. 1

[^c22089251]: Ofqual, a non-ministerial Government Deptartment, was established by section 127 of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (c.22). The matters in relation to which Ofqual has functions are set out in part 7 of that Act and include the regulation of vocational qualifications in Northern Ireland.

[^c22089261]: RCVS was established by Royal Charter in 1844 and is responsible for the registration of veterinary surgeons and the regulation of their education, ethical and clinical standards.

[^c22089271]: 2011 c.16 (N.I)

[^c22089281]: 1966 c.36; section 2 was amended by S.I. 2003/2919, Article 12 and the Schedule, paragraph 1 and S.I. 2008/1824, Article 2 and the Schedule, paragraph 2(a).

[^c22089301]: 1954 c.33 (N.I.)

[^c22089311]: 1981 No. 1675 (N.I. 26)

[^c22089321]: S.I. 1981/1115 (N.I. 22). as amended by S.I. 1984/702 (N.I. 2) Article 17, S.I. 1994/1891 (N.I. 6) Articles 22 and 23, and 2010 (c.1) Section 19.

[^c22089331]: S.I. 2004/702 (N.I. 3)

[^c22089341]: S.R. 2009 No. 247

[^c22089351]: S.R. 2014 No. 162

[^key-24e282a663933adee11177193f5552cf]: Reg. 16(5) inserted (23.7.2015) by The Non-Commercial Movement of Pet Animals (Amendment) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 (S.R. 2015/282), art. 1, Sch. para. 13

[^key-98dcb9e8f246231abfac31994b6300b2]: Words in reg. 3(1) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England and Northern Ireland) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/1308), regs. 1, 2; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

[^key-aa6fd67f89caca283710a74bb695986a]: Words in reg. 11 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Agriculture, Animals and Aquaculture (Health, Identification, Welfare, Trade etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (S.R. 2020/324), regs. 1(3), 19(2)

[^key-f5d0067372a763b830dcd0d17b9fbc9f]: Words in reg. 13 substituted (31.12.2020) by The Agriculture, Animals and Aquaculture (Health, Identification, Welfare, Trade etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (S.R. 2020/324), regs. 1(3), 19(2)

[^key-6abc8f09804ba1266d909749c56a177b]: Reg. 28(6) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Animal Health and Welfare (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/158), regs. 1(1), 7(4); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

[^key-e7fdc5c6d46c9bfbded6350d6437a471]: Words in reg. 38(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Agriculture, Animals and Aquaculture (Health, Identification, Welfare, Trade etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (S.R. 2020/324), regs. 1(3), 19(3)

[^key-858d25c63a7607cc8fa687a77de92165]: Words in Sch. 2 para. 3(2) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Agriculture, Animals and Aquaculture (Health, Identification, Welfare, Trade etc.) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 (S.R. 2020/324), regs. 1(3), 19(4)

[^key-ec9a6304605c1fe7d089ed81b124276f]: Words in Sch. 4 para. 3(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Animal Health and Welfare (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/158), regs. 1(1), 7(7); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

[^key-8d2fd775507e75233b73423747fe2157]: Word in Sch. 2 para. 3(2) substituted (27.2.2025) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/82), reg. 1(2), Sch. 10 para. 23