Equivalency between EU and non-EU countries regarding animal welfare at slaughter

Abstract

Much development work has already been done by the industry and the competent authorities in countries exporting meat to the EU, and these countries are well on their way to satisfying the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009. The major problem for animal welfare was that the electrical parameters used for water-bath stunning of poultry were not set at levels which ensured that birds were effectively stunned. In addition, there are meat quality issues when higher currents are used. Other areas to be further developed include clarification and formalisation of the tasks of the Animal Welfare Officer; certifying competence of the relevant staff; adapting and improving or completing the existing standard operating procedures. Several countries need to make changes to their transport/delivery practices or to the arrangements for accommodating animals, so that they respect the requirement to feed and bed animals if not slaughtered within 12 hours of their arrival at the slaughterhouse.