17.5.2018   

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 122/11

(1)

Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 sets out the list of approved stunning methods, related specifications and the specific requirements for certain methods.

(2)

Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 sets out the requirements regarding the layout, construction and equipment of slaughterhouses.

(3)

Following a request from a private business operator the Commission requested the European Food Safety Authority (‘EFSA’) to provide an opinion on low atmospheric pressure system (‘the method’) for the stunning of broiler chickens (chickens kept for meat production).

(4)

In its opinion (2) of 25 October 2017, EFSA established that:

(5)

In order to allow the competent authorities to perform regular checks on compliance with that method, specific requirements for that method should be laid down.

(6)

The method is considered, in addition to commercial slaughter, to be suitable for killing chickens in case of depopulation.

(7)

The method is also suitable in other cases where killing of high number of chickens is necessary for other reasons than public health, animal health, animal welfare or environmental reasons.

(8)

Considering that the method is equivalent, in terms of animal welfare outcomes, to at least one of the existing approved methods, it is therefore necessary to amend Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009.

(9)

To enable the effective operation and monitoring of the method certain specific requirements regarding its layout, construction and equipment should be respected. It is therefore necessary to amend also Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009.

(10)

Annexes I and II to Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(11)

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed,

(1)

Annex I is amended as follows:

(2)

in Annex II, the following point 7 is added:

‘7.   Low atmospheric pressure stunning

7.1.   Low atmospheric pressure stunning equipment shall be designed and built to ensure a vacuum of the chamber enabling slow gradual decompression with reduction in available oxygen and holding at minimal pressure.

7.2.   The system shall be equipped to measure continuously, display and record the absolute vacuum pressure, the time of exposure, the temperature, the humidity and to give a clearly visible and audible warning if the pressure deviates from the required levels. The device shall be clearly visible to the personnel.’.