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Parliamentary question - E-000931/2017Parliamentary question
E-000931/2017

Article 29 of Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing

Question for written answer E-000931-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Peter Jahr (PPE)

According to Article 29 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing, the transitional period for licensed slaughterhouses which began operating before 1 January 2013 will end on 8 December 2019.

In Germany, Article 29 is implemented as follows:

From this date, all electrical stunning equipment in licensed slaughterhouses must display the key electrical parameters, such as the time it takes the current to penetrate (= current flow duration), strength of current (in A or mA), voltage (in V), frequency (in Hz) and the minimum time it takes the current to penetrate (audibly and visually) and incorrect stunning with respect to the course of the current strength, and the variable key parameters must be recorded. The records must be kept for at least a year and submitted to the relevant authorities upon request in accordance with Section 14 of the German Regulation on the protection of animals in connection with slaughter and killing. They can be made electronically but not in writing. This also applies to licensed slaughterhouses with obsolete electrical stunning equipment. Penetrative stunning methods are not permitted to be routinely used on pigs.

1. Is the Commission aware of what the resultant financial implementation costs will be, in particular for decentralised slaughterhouses?2. Are there alternative ways to implement Article 29?3. How is Article 29 of Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 implemented in other Member States?