Collection

Welfare of animals at the time of killing

Guidance on animal welfare for slaughterhouses, knacker's yards, small-scale producers and private individuals.

• From: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
• Published: 15 October 2015
• Last updated: 16 October 2015 — See all updates

These guides help you comply with the following regulations to minimise pain, distress or suffering of an animal when it’s killed:

• EU regulation 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing
• Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (WATOK) regulations for England

Licensing, inspections and penalties

• Slaughterhouses, knacker's yards and farms: inspections and penalties
  • 21 March 2019
  • Guidance
• Get a certificate of competence or licence to slaughter or kill animals
  • 12 November 2021
  • Guidance

Slaughterhouses

• Red and white meat slaughterhouses: standard operating procedures
  • 15 October 2015
  • Guidance
• White meat slaughterhouses: unloading, handling and holding, restraining, stunning, killing
  • 22 March 2019
  • Guidance
• Red meat slaughterhouses: unloading, handling and holding animals
  • 21 March 2019
  • Guidance
• Red meat slaughterhouses: restraining, stunning, killing animals
  • 20 July 2022
  • Guidance
• Halal and kosher slaughter
  • 15 October 2015
  • Guidance

Knacker's yards

• Knacker's yard and on-farm killing: standard operating procedures
  • 22 March 2019
  • Guidance
• Knacker's yard: unloading, handling and holding animals
  • 21 March 2019
  • Guidance
• Knacker's yards and farms: restraining, stunning, killing animals
  • 3 February 2022
  • Guidance

Domestic and small-scale slaughter

• Slaughter poultry, livestock and rabbits for home consumption
  • 3 February 2022
  • Guidance
• Slaughtering poultry, rabbits and hares on farms for small-scale suppliers
  • 16 October 2015
  • Guidance

Published 15 October 2015
Last updated 16 October 2015 + show all updates

1. 16 October 2015

   Added knacker's yards and domestic slaughter groups.

2. 15 October 2015

   First published.