Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 October 2025
146. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific inspection regime applied by his Department to abattoirs conducting slaughter without pre-stunning, including the presence of veterinary inspectors during operations; and if he will provide data on compliance or breaches recorded in the past five years. [52207/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is EU and Irish legislation in place for the protection of animals at the time of slaughter. The relevant EU legislation is Regulation No. 1099 of 2009 on the Protection of Animals at the Time of Killing and the Irish legislation is S.I. 292 of 2013, as amended. The legislation requires animals to be stunned (rendered unconscious) before they are slaughtered. However, slaughter of animals without prior stunning, as prescribed by religious rites, is also permitted under the legislation under derogation and it is carried out here in a very limited number of slaughter plants. My Department is responsible for implementation and enforcement of this legislation.
The inspection regime applied by my Department to the small number of abattoirs conducting slaughter without pre-stunning is similar to other abattoirs, and meets my Department’s responsibility under EU Regulation No.1099 of 2009 on the Protection of Animals at the Time of Killing and Irish legislation S.I. 292 of 2013, as amended. There is a permanent presence of veterinary inspectors at abattoirs conducting slaughter without pre-stunning. Official Controls are continuously applied via ongoing checks, audits and ongoing monitoring of operations in the slaughter plant. Of 5 Compliance Notices issued under S.I 292 of 2013 (Welfare at Slaughter) for years 2020 to 2024 inclusive, 2 Compliance Notices related to Non-Stun Slaughter.
