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Written question asked by Matthew Offord (Conservative) on Monday, 16 July 2018, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 18 July 2018. It was answered by George Eustice (Conservative) on Monday, 23 July 2018 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Pigs: Animal Welfare

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will consider the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to phase out the use of CO2 gas for the stunning of pigs before slaughter.

Answer

The Government is committed to improving animal welfare and, due to our concerns over the use of carbon dioxide in high concentrations for slaughtering pigs, we are jointly funding a research project in this area with the Humane Slaughter Association. Researchers at the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh are carrying out a two year research project to determine whether Low Atmospheric Pressure Stunning might be a more humane way to stun pigs during commercial slaughter.

The use of carbon dioxide in high concentration for the commercial stunning of pigs is permitted under Council Regulation (EC) 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at time of killing. Whilst the UK remains a full member of the EU and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force, the Government will continue to implement and apply EU legislation.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
164420
Session
2017-19
Subjects
Animal welfare Carbon dioxide Pigs Slaughterhouses
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk