• DE - Deutsch
  • EN - English
Parliamentary question - E-005891/2014Parliamentary question
E-005891/2014

Contradiction between the EU hygiene regulation and the EU animal welfare at slaughter regulation

Question for written answer E-005891-14
to the Commission
Rule 130
Jörg Leichtfried (S&D)

People in Europe consume an average of around 42 million tonnes of meat per year. Given that the methods used for slaughter significantly influence the quality of the meat, Austrian organisations representing mountain and small-scale farmers are calling for stress-free slaughter possibilities based on the rules in force in Germany. They are calling for amendments to the Austrian regulation on animal welfare at slaughter to make it easier to kill livestock — particularly cattle — in their usual environment (in the open air, in the field, etc.).

A comparison between the EU hygiene regulation (853/2004) and the EU animal welfare at slaughter regulation (1099/2009) shows that there is a contradiction between them, since the hygiene regulation stipulates that only live animals may be brought into the slaughter premises, whilst a shot from a firearm (in the field) is permissible under the animal welfare at slaughter regulation.

1. Is the Commission aware of the contradiction between these two EU regulations?

The Austrian regulation on animal welfare at slaughter currently allows cattle that spend all year in the open to be killed by a shot from a firearm, but only where special permission has been received from the competent authority.

2. How much room for manoeuvre is there for a reform of the national regulation on animal welfare at slaughter so as to allow or facilitate the slaughter of animals in their usual environment, without conflicting with current EU legislation?