Council Directive 93/119/EC of 22 December 1993 on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing
Date: 1993-12-22
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: meat processing industry, protection of animals, slaughter of animals, transport of animals













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31993L0119

Council Directive 93/119/EC of 22 December 1993 on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing  


Official Journal L 340 , 31/12/1993 P. 0021 - 0034 Finnish special edition: Chapter 3 Volume 55 P. 0194  Swedish special edition: Chapter 3 Volume 55 P. 0194  





COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 93/119/ECof 22 December 1993on the  protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killingTHE COUNCIL OF THE  EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 43  thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3), Whereas Council Directive 74/577/EEC (4) established rules on the stunning of animals before  slaughter; Whereas the European Convention for the Protection of Animals for Slaughter was approved on behalf  of the Community by Council Decision 88/306/EEC (5); whereas the scope of the Convention is wider  than existing Community rules on the matter; Whereas national laws concerning the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing have  an impact on the conditions of competition and accordingly on the operation of the common market in  agricultural products; Whereas there is therefore a need to establish common minimum standards for the protection of  animals at the time of slaughter or killing in order to ensure rational development of production  and to facilitate the completion of the internal market in animals and animal products; Whereas at the time of slaughter or killing animals should be spared any avoidable pain or  suffering; Whereas, however, it is necessary to allow for technical and scientific experiments to be carried  out and to take account of the particular requirements of certain religious rites; Whereas the rules should also ensure satisfactory protection, at the time of slaughter or killing,  for animals not covered by the Convention; Whereas in the declaration on the protection of animals annexed to the Final Act of the Treaty on  European Union, the Conference calls upon the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission,  as well as the Member States, when drafting and implementing Community legislation on the common  agricultural policy, to pay full regard to the welfare requirements of animals; Whereas in so doing Community action must comply with the requirements arising out of the principle  of subsidiarity laid down in Article 3b of the Treaty; Whereas Directive 74/577/EEC should be repealed, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE: CHAPTER I General provisions Article 11. This Directive shall apply to the  movement, lairaging, restraint, stunning, slaughter and killing of animals bred and kept for the  production of meat, skin, fur or other products and to methods of killing animals for the purpose  of disease control. 2. It shall not apply to: - technical or scientific experiments relating to the procedures mentioned in paragraph 1, carried  out under the supervision of the competent authority, - animals which are killed in cultural or sports events, - wild game killed in accordance with Article 3 of Directive 92/45/EEC. Article 2For the purposes of this Directive the following definitions shall apply: 1. slaughterhouse: any premises, including facilities for moving or lairaging animals, used for the  commercial slaughter of animals referred to in Article 5 (1); 2. movement: unloading of animals or driving of them from unloading platforms, stalls or pens at  slaughterhouses to the premises or place where they are to be slaughtered; 3. lairaging: keeping animals in stalls, pens, covered areas or fields used by slaughterhouses in  order to give them any necessary attention (water, fodder, rest) before they are slaughtered; 4. restraint: the application to an animal of any procedure designed to restrict its movements in  order to facilitate effective stunning or killing; 5. stunning: any process which, when applied to an animal, causes immediate loss of consciousness  which lasts until death; 6. killing: any process which causes the death of an animal; 7. slaughter: causing the death of an animal by bleeding; 8. competent authority: the central authority of a Member State competent to carry out veterinary  checks or any authority to which it has delegated that competence. However, in the Member States, the religious authority on whose behalf slaughter is carried out  shall be competent for the application and monitoring of the special provisions which apply to  slaughter according to certain religious rites. As regards the said provisions, that authority  shall operate under the responsibility of the official veterinarian, as defined in Article 2 of  Directive 64/433/EEC. Article 3Animals shall be spared any avoidable excitement, pain or suffering during movement,  lairaging, restraint, stunning, slaughter or killing. CHAPTER II Requirements applicable to slaughterhouses Article 4The construction, facilities  and equipment of slaughterhouses, and their operation, shall be such as to spare animals any  avoidable excitement, pain or suffering. Article 51. Solipeds, ruminants, pigs, rabbits and poultry brought into slaughterhouses for  slaughter shall be: (a) moved and if necessary lairaged in accordance with the provisions of Annex A; (b) restrained in accordance with the provisions of Annex B; (c) stunned before slaughter or killed instantaneously in accordance with the provisions of Annex  C; (d) bled in accordance with the provisions of Annex D. 2. In the case of animals subject to particular methods of slaughter required by certain religious  rites, the requirements of paragraph 1(c) shall not apply. 3. With due regard for the general rules of the Treaty, the competent authorities of the Member  States may, for establishments qualifying for derogations pursuant to Articles 4 and 13 of  Directive 64/433/EEC, Article 4 of Directive 91/498/EEC and Articles 7 and 18 of Directive  71/118/EEC, grant derogations from paragraph 1(a) in respect of cattle, and from paragraph 1(a) and  from the methods for stunning and killing referred to in Annex C in respect of poultry, rabbits,  pigs, sheep and goats, provided that the requirements laid down in Article 3 are met. Article 61. Instruments, restraint and other equipment and installations used for stunning or  killing must be designed, constructed, maintained and used in such a way as to achieve rapid and  effective stunning or killing in accordance with the provisions of this Directive. The competent  authority shall check that the instruments, restraint and other equipment used for stunning or  killing comply with the above principles and shall check regularly to ensure that they are in a  good state of repair and will allow the aforementioned objective to be attained. 2. Suitable spare equipment and instruments must be kept at the place of slaughter for emergency  use. They shall be properly maintained and inspected regularly. Article 7No person shall engage in the movement, lairaging, restraint, stunning, slaughter or  killing of animals unless he has the knowledge and skill necessary to perform the tasks humanely  and efficiently, in accordance with the requirements of this Directive. The competent authority shall ensure that persons employed for slaughtering possess the necessary  skill, ability and professional knowledge. Article 8Inspections and controls in slaughterhouses shall be carried out under the  responsibility of the competent authority, which shall at all times have free access to all parts  of slaughterhouses in order to ascertain compliance with this Directive. However, such inspections  and controls may be carried out at the same time as controls carried out for other purposes. CHAPTER III Slaughter and killing outwith slaughterhouses Article 91. Where animals referred  to in Article 5 (1) are slaughtered outwith slaughterhouses, Article 5 (1)(b), (c) and (d) shall  apply. 2. Member States may, however, grant derogations from paragraph 1 in respect of poultry, rabbits,  pigs, sheep and goats slaughtered or killed outwith slaughterhouses by their owner for his personal  consumption, provided that Article 3 is complied with and that pigs, sheep and goats have been  stunned in advance. Article 101. Where animals referred to in Article 5 (1) are to be slaughtered or killed for  purposes of disease control, this shall be carried out in accordance with Annex E. 2. Animals farmed for their fur shall be killed in accordance with Annex F. 3. Surplus day-old chicks, as defined in Article 2 (3) of Directive 90/539/EEC, and embryos in  hatchery waste shall be killed as rapidly as possible in accordance with Annex G. Article 11Articles 9 and 10 shall not apply in the case of an animal which has to be killed  immediately for emergency reasons. Article 12Injured or diseased animals must be slaughtered or killed on the spot. However, the  competent authority may authorize the transport of injured or diseased animals for the purpose of  slaughter or killing provided that such transport does not entail further suffering for the  animals. CHAPTER IV Final provisions Article 131. If necessary, rules on the protection of animals at  the time of slaughter or killing other than those in this Directive shall be adopted by the Council  acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission. 2. (a) The Annexes to this Directive shall be amended by the Council acting on a proposal from the  Commission, in accordance with the procedure laid down in paragraph 1, in particular in order to  adapt them to technological and scientific progress; (b) in addition, and no later than 31 December 1995, the Commission shall submit to the Council a  report drawn up on the basis of an opinion from the Scientific Veterinary Committee together with  appropriate proposals concerning the use, in particular, of: - free bullet pistols, applied to the brain, or of gases other than those referred to in Annex C or  combinations thereof for stunning and more particularly carbon dioxide for stunning poultry, - gases other than those referred to in Annex C or combinations thereof for killing, - any other scientifically recognized procedure for stunning or killing. The Council shall act by a qualified majority on these proposals; (c) by way of derogation from (a), and no later than 31 December 1995, the Commission, in  accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 16, shall submit to the Standing Veterinary  Committee a report drawn up on the basis of an opinion from the Scientific Veterinary Committee,  together with appropriate proposals, with a view to laying down: (i) the strength and duration of use of the current necessary to stun the various species  concerned; (ii) the gas concentration and length of exposure necessary to stun the various species concerned; (d) pending implementation of paragraphs (b) and (c), national rules in the matter shall apply, in  compliance with the general provisions of the Treaty. Article 141. Commission experts may make on-the-spot checks in so far as is necessary to ensure  uniform application of this Directive. In order to do this, they may check a representative sample  of establishments to ensure that the competent authority is checking that the said establishments  are fulfilling the requirements of this Directive. The Commission shall inform the Member States of the result of the checks carried out. 2. The checks referred to in paragraph 1 shall be carried out in collaboration with the competent  authority. 3. A Member State in whose territory a check is being carried out shall give all the necessary  assistance to the experts in carrying out their duties. 4. The detailed rules for implementing this Article shall be determined in accordance with the  procedure laid down in Article 16. Article 15In the course of the inspection of slaughterhouses or establishments which have been  or are to be approved in third countries for the purpose of being able to export to the Community  in accordance with Community rules, the Commission experts shall ensure that the animals referred  to in Article 5 have been slaughtered under conditions which offer guarantees of humane treatment  at least equivalent to those provided for in this Directive. To enable meat to be imported from a third country the health certificate accompanying such meat  must be supplemented by an attestation certifying that the above requirement has been met. Article 161. Where the procedure laid down in this Article is to be followed, the matter shall  without delay be referred to the Standing Veterinary Committee by its chairman, either on his own  initiative or at the request of the representative of a Member State. 2. The representative of the Commission shall submit to the committee a draft of the measures to be  taken. The committee shall deliver its opinion on the draft within a time limit which the chairman  may lay down according to the urgency of the matter. The opinion shall be delivered by the majority  laid down in Article 148 (2) of the Treaty in the case of decisions which the Council is required  to adopt on a proposal from the Commission. The votes of the representatives of the Member States  within the committee shall be weighted in the manner set out in that Article. The chairman shall  not vote. 3. (a) The Commission shall adopt the intended measures when they are in accordance with the  opinion of the committee. (b) Where the intended measures are not in accordance with the opinion of the committee, or if no  opinion is delivered, the Commission shall without delay submit to the Council a proposal relating  to the measures to be taken. The Council shall act by a qualified majority. If, on the expiry of a period of three months from the date on which the matter was referred to it,  the Council has not acted, the proposed measures shall be adopted by the Commission, save where the  Council has decided against the said measures by a simple majority. Article 17Directive 74/577/EEC shall be repealed with effect from 1 January 1995. Article 181. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative  provisions, including any penalties, necessary to comply with this Directive on 1 January 1995.  They shall forthwith inform the Commission thereof. When Member States adopt these measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall  be accompanied by such reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of  making such reference shall be laid down by Member States. 2. However, as from the date laid down in paragraph 1, Member States may, with due regard for the  general rules of the Treaty, maintain or apply in their territory more stringent provisions than  those contained in this Directive. They shall inform the Commission of any such measures. 3. Member States shall communicate to the Commission the texts of the main provisions of national  law which they adopt in the field governed by this Directive. Article 19This Directive is addressed to the Member States. Done at Brussels, 22 December 1993. For the CouncilThe PresidentJ.-M. DEHOUSSE(1) OJ No C 314, 5. 12. 1991, p.  14. (2) OJ No C 241, 21. 9. 1992, p. 75. (3) OJ No C 106, 27. 4. 1992, p. 15. (4) OJ No L 316, 26. 11. 1974, p. 10. (5) OJ No L 137, 2. 6. 1988, p. 25. ANNEX A REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MOVEMENT AND LAIRAGING OF ANIMALS IN SLAUGHTERHOUSES I.  General requirements 1. Every slaughterhouse coming into operation after 30 June 1994 must have  suitable equipment and facilities available for the purpose of unloading animals from means of  transport, and all existing slaughterhouses must comply with these requirements by 1 January 1996. 2. Animals must be unloaded as soon as possible after arrival. If delay is unavoidable they must be  protected from extremes of weather and provided with adequate ventilation. 3. Animals which might injure each other on account of their species, sex, age or origin must be  kept and lairaged apart from each other. 4. Animals must be protected from adverse weather conditions. If they have been subjected to high  temperatures in humid weather they must be cooled by appropriate means. 5. The condition and state of health of the animals must be inspected at least every morning and  evening. 6. Without prejudice to the provisions laid down in Chapter VI of Annex I to Directive 64/433/EEC,  animals which have experienced pain or suffering during transport or upon arrival at the  slaughterhouse, and unweaned animals, must be slaughtered immediately. If this is not possible,  they must be separated and slaughtered as soon as possible and at least within the following two  hours. Animals which are uanble to walk must not be dragged to the place of slaughter, but must be  killed where they lie or, where it is possible and does not entail any unnecessary suffering,  transported on a trolley or movable platform to the place of emergency slaughter. II. Requirements for animals delivered other than in containers 1. Where slaughterhouses have  equipment for unloading animals, such equipment must have non-slip flooring and, if necessary, be  provided with lateral protection. Bridges, ramps and gangways must be fitted with sides, railings  or some other means of protection to prevent animals falling off them. Exit or entry ramps must  have the minimum possible incline. 2. During unloading, care must be taken not to frighten, excite or mistreat the animals, and to  ensure that they are not overturned. Animals must not be lifted by the head, horns, ears, feet,  tail or fleece in such a way as to cause them unnecessary pain or suffering. When necessary, they  must be led individually. 3. Animals must be moved with care. Passageways must be so constructed as to minimize the risk of  injury to animals, and so arranged as to exploit their gregarious tendencies. Instruments intended  for guiding animals must be used solely for that purpose, and only for short periods. Instruments  which administer electric shocks may be used only for adult bovine animals and pigs which refuse to  move, provided that the shocks last no more than two seconds, are adequately spaced out and that  the animals have room ahead of them in which to move. Such shocks may be applied only to the  muscles of the hindquarters. 4. Animals must not be struck on, nor shall pressure be applied to, any particularly sensitive part  of the body. In particular, animals' tails must not be crushed, twisted or broken and their eyes  must not be grasped. Blows and kicks must not be inflicted. 5. Animals must not be taken to the place of slaughter unless they can be slaughtered immediately.  If they are not slaughtered immediately on arrival they must be lairaged. 6. Without prejudice to derogations granted pursuant to Articles 4 and 13 of Directive 64/433/EEC,  slaughterhouses must be equipped with a sufficient number of pens for adequate lairaging of the  animals with protection from the effects of adverse weather. 7. In addition to complying with requirements already laid down in Community rules, lairages must  have: - floors which minimize the risk of slipping and which do not cause injury to animals in contact  with them, - adequate ventilation, taking into account the extremes of temperature and humidity which may be  expected. Where mechanical means of ventilation are required, provision must be made for emergency  back-up facilities in the event of breakdown, - artificial lighting at a level sufficient to permit inspection of all animals at any time; if  necessary, adequate back-up lighting must be available, - where necessary, equipment for tethering animals, - where necessary, adequate supplies of a suitable bedding material for all animals kept in the  lairage overnight. 8. Where, in addition to the lairages referred to above, slaughterhouses also have field lairages  without natural shelter or shade, appropriate protection from adverse weather must be provided.  Field lairages must be maintained in such condition as to ensure that animals are not subjected to  physical, chemical or other health hazards. 9. Animals which are not taken directly upon arrival to the place of slaughter must have drinking  water available to them from appropriate facilities at all times. Animals which have not been  slaughtered within 12 hours of their arrival must be fed, and must subsequently be given moderate  amounts of food at appropriate intervals. 10. Animals which are kept for 12 hours or more at a slaughterhouse must be lairaged and, where  appropriate, tethered, in such a way that they can lie down without difficulty. Where animals are  not tethered, food must be provided in a way which will permit the animals to feed undisturbed. III. Requirements for animals delivered in containers 1. Containers in which animals are  transported must be handled with care, and must not be thrown, dropped or knocked over. Where  possible, they must be loaded and unloaded horizontally and mechanically. 2. Animals delivered in containers with perforated or flexible bottoms must be unloaded with  particular care in order to avoid injury. Where appropriate, animals must be unloaded from the  containers individually. 3. Animals which have been transported in containers must be slaughtered as soon as possible;  otherwise they must if necessary be watered and fed in accordance with point II.9. ANNEX B RESTRAINT OF ANIMALS BEFORE STUNNING, SLAUGHTER OR KILLING 1. Animals must be  restrained in an appropriate manner in such a way as to spare them any avoidable pain, suffering,  agitation, injury or contusions. However, in the case of ritual slaughter, restraint of bovine animals before slaughter using a  mechanical method intended to avoid any pain, suffering or agitation and any injuries or contusions  to the animals is obligatory. 2. Animals' legs must not be tied, and animals must not be suspended before stunning or killing.  However, poultry and rabbits may be suspended for slaughter provided that appropriate measures are  taken to ensure that, on the point of being stunned, they are in a sufficiently relaxed state for  stunning to be carried out effectively and without undue delay. Furthermore, holding an animal in a restraint system may in no circumstances be regarded as  suspension. 3. Animals which are stunned or killed by mechanical or electrical means applied to the head must  be presented in such a position that the equipment can be applied and operated easily, accurately  and for the appropriate time. The competent authority may, however, in the case of solipeds and  cattle, authorize the use of appropriate means to restrain head movements. 4. Electrical stunning equipment must not be used as a means of restraint or immobilization or to  make animals move. ANNEX C STUNNING OR KILLING OF ANIMALS OTHER THAN ANIMALS REARED FOR FUR I. PERMITTED  METHODS A. Stunning1. Captive bolt pistol2. Concussion3. Electronarcosis4. Exposure to carbon  dioxideB. Killing1. Free bullet pistol or rifle2. Electrocution3. Exposure to carbon dioxideC.  The competent authority may, however, authorize decapitation, dislocation of the neck and the use  of a vacuum chamber as a method of killing for certain specific species, provided that Article 3 is  complied with and that the specific requirements laid down in point III of this Annex are met. II. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR STUNNING Stunning must not be carried out unless it is possible to  bleed the animals immediately afterwards. 1. Captive bolt pistol(a) Instruments must be positioned so as to ensure that the projectile  enters the cerebral cortex. In particular, it is prohibited to shoot cattle in the poll position. Sheep and goats may be shot in the poll position if the presence of horns prevents use of the crown  position. In such cases the shot must be placed immediately behind the base of the horns and aimed  towards the mouth, and bleeding must commence within 15 seconds of shooting. (b) When using a captive bolt instrument, the operator must check to ensure that the bolt retracts  to its full extent after each shot. If it does not so retract, the instrument must not be used  again until it has been repaired. (c) Animals must not be placed in stunning pens unless the operator who is to stun them is ready to  do so as soon as the animal is placed in the pen. Animals must not be placed in head restraint  until the slaughterman is ready to stun them. 2. Concussion(a) This is only permitted using a mechanically-operated instrument which administers  a blow to the skull. The operator must ensure that the instrument is applied in the proper position  and that the correct strength of cartridge is used, in accordance with the manufacturer's  instructions, to produce an effective stun without fracture of the skull. (b) However, in the case of small batches of rabbits, where a non-mechanical blow to the skull is  used, that operation must be carried out in such a way that the animal is immediately rendered  unconscious and remains so until its death and in compliance with the general provisions of Article  3. 3. ElectronarcosisA. Electrodes1. Electrodes must be so placed that they span the brain, enabling  the current to pass through it. Appropriate measures must also be taken to ensure that there is  good electrical contact, in particular by removing excess wool or wetting skin. 2. Where animals are stunned individually, the apparatus must: (a) incorporate a device which measures the impedance of the load and prevents operation of the  apparatus if the minimum required current cannot be passed; (b) incorporate an audible or visible device indicating the length of time of its application to an  animal; (c) be connected to a device indicating the voltage and the current under load, positioned so as to  be clearly visible to the operator. B. Waterbath stunners1. Where waterbath stunners are used to stun poultry, the level of the water  must be adjustable in order to ensure that there is good contact with the bird's head. The strength and duration of the current used in this case will be determined by the competent  authority so as to ensure that the animal is immediately rendered unconscious and remains so until  death. 2. Where poultry are stunned in groups in a waterbath, a voltage sufficient to produce a current  strong enough to ensure that every bird is stunned must be maintained. 3. Appropriate measures must be taken to ensure that the current passes properly, in particular  good electrical contacts and wetting the shackle-to-leg contact. 4. Waterbaths for poultry must be adequate in size and depth for the type of bird being  slaughtered, and must not overflow at the entrance. The electrode which is immersed in the water  must extend the length of the waterbath. 5. If necessary, manual back-up must be available.4. Exposure to carbon dioxide1. The concentration of carbon dioxide for stunning pigs must be at  least 70 % by volume. 2. The chamber in which pigs are exposed to the gas, and the equipment used for conveying the pigs  through it, must be so designed, constructed and maintained as to avoid injury to the pigs and  compression of the chest and enable them to remain upright until they lose consciousness. Adequate  lighting must be provided in the conveying mechanism and the chamber to allow pigs to see other  pigs or their surroundings. 3. The chamber must be fitted with devices for measuring the gas concentration at the point of  maximum exposure and for giving a clearly visible and audible warning if the concentration of  carbon dioxide falls below the required level. 4. Pigs must be placed in pens or containers in which they can see each other and conveyed into the  gas chamber within 30 seconds from their entry into the installation. They must be conveyed as  rapidly as possible from the entrance to the point of maximum concentration of the gas and must be  exposed to it for long enough to ensure that they remain unconscious until they have been killed. III. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR KILLING 1. Free bullet pistol or rifleThese methods, which may be  used to kill various species, in particular large farmed game and deer, are subject to  authorization by the competent authority, which must ensure in particular that they are used by  duly qualified staff and in compliance with the general provisions of Article 3 of this Directive. 2. Decapitation and dislocation of the neckThese methods, which are to be used only for killing  poultry, are subject to authorization by the competent authority, which must ensure in particular  that they are used by duly qualified staff and in compliance with the general provisions of Article  3 to this Directive. 3. Electrocution and carbon dioxideThe competent authority may authorize the killing of various  species by these methods provided that, in addition to the general provisions of Article 3, the  specific provisions laid down in point II (3) and (4) of this Annex are complied with. It shall  also, to achieve this, lay down the strength and duration of the current used and the concentration  and length of exposure to carbon dioxide. 4. Vacuum chamberThis method, which is to be used only for the killing without bleeding of certain  animals for consumption belonging to farmed game species (quail, partridge and pheasant), is  subject to authorization by the competent authority, which shall ensure, in addition to compliance  with the requirements laid down in Article 3, that: - the animals are placed in an airtight chamber in which a vacuum is swiftly achieved by means of a  powerful electric pump, - the vacuum is maintained until the animals are dead, - the animals are held in groups in transport containers which can be placed in the vacuum chamber,  which is designed for that purpose. ANNEX D BLEEDING OF ANIMALS 1. For animals which have been stunned, bleeding must be  started as soon as possible after stunning and be carried out in such a way as to bring about  rapid, profuse and complete bleeding. In any event, the bleeding must be carried out before the  animal regains consciousness. 2. All animals which have been stunned must be bled by incising at least one of the carotid  arteries or the vessels from which they arise. After incision of the blood vessels, no further dressing procedures nor any electrical stimulation  may be performed on the animals before the bleeding has ended. 3. Where one person is responsible for the stunning, shackling, hoisting and bleeding of animals,  that person must carry out those operations consecutively on one animal before carrying them out on  another animal. 4. Manual back-up must be available where poultry is bled by means of automatic neck-cutters so  that, in the event of a breakdown, birds may be slaughtered immediately. ANNEX E KILLING METHODS FOR DISEASE CONTROL Permitted methodsAny method permitted  under Annex C which causes certain death. In addition, the competent authority may, in compliance with the general provisions of Article 3 of  this Directive, permit the use of other methods for killing conscious animals, ensuring in  particular that: - if methods are used which do not cause immediate death (for example, captive bolt shooting),  appropriate measures are taken to kill the animals as soon as possible, and in any event before  they regain consciousness, - nothing more is done to the animals before it has been ascertained that they are dead. ANNEX F METHODS OF KILLING FUR ANIMALS I. Permitted methods 1. Mechanically-operated  instruments which penetrate the brain. 2. Injection of an overdose of a drug with anaesthetic properties. 3. Electrocution with cardiac arrest. 4. Exposure to carbon monoxide. 5. Exposure to chloroform. 6. Exposure to carbon dioxide. The competent authority shall decide on the most appropriate method of killing for the different  species concerned in compliance with the general provisions of Article 3 of this Directive. II. Specific requirements 1. Mechanically-operated instruments which penetrate the brain(a)  Instruments must be positioned so as to ensure that the projectile enters the cerebral cortex. (b) This method is permitted only if it is followed by immediate bleeding. 2. Injection of an overdose of a drug with anaesthetic propertiesOnly those anaesthetics, doses  and applications which cause immediate loss of consciousness followed by death may be used. 3. Electrocution with cardiac arrestElectrodes must be placed so that they span the brain and the  heart and the minimum current level used must lead to immediate loss of consciousness and cardiac  arrest. However, for foxes, where electrodes are applied to the mouth and rectum, a current of an  average value of 0,3 amps must be applied for at least 3 seconds. 4. Exposure to carbon monoxide(a) The chamber in which the animals are exposed to the gas must be  designed, constructed and maintained in such a way as to avoid injury to the animals and allow them  to be supervised. (b) The animals must be introduced into the chamber only after it has been filled with a  concentration of carbon monoxide of at least 1 % by volume, supplied by a source of 100 % carbon  monoxide. (c) The gas produced by an engine specially adapted for that purpose may be used to kill mustelids  and chinchillas provided that tests have shown that the gas used: - has been suitably cooled, - has been sufficiently filtered, - is free from any irritant matter or gas, - and that the animals cannot be placed in the chamber until the concentration of carbon monoxide  has reached at least 1 % by volume. (d) When inhaled the gas must first induce deep general anaesthesia and must then cause certain  death. (e) The animals must remain in the chamber until they are dead. 5. Exposure to chloroformExposure to chloroform may be used to kill chinchillas provided that: (a) the chamber in which the animals are exposed to the gas is designed, constructed and maintained  in such a way as to avoid injury to the animals and allow them to be supervised; (b) the animals are introduced into the chamber only if it contains a saturated chloroform-air  compound; (c) when inhaled, the gas first induces deep general anaesthesia and then causes certain death; (d) the animals remain in the chamber until they are dead. 6. Exposure to carbon dioxideCarbon dioxide may be used to kill mustelids and chinchillas provided  that: (a) the chamber in which the animals are exposed to the gas is designed, constructed and maintained  in such a way as to avoid injury to the animals and allow them to be supervised; (b) the animals are introduced into the chamber only when the atmosphere contains the highest  possible concentration of carbon dioxide supplied by a source of 100 % carbon dioxide; (c) when inhaled, the gas first induces deep general anaesthesia and then causes certain death; (d) the animals remain in the chamber until they are dead. ANNEX G KILLING OF SURPLUS CHICKS AND EMBRYOS IN HATCHERY WASTE I. Permitted methods  for the killing of chicks 1. Use of a mechanical apparatus causing rapid death. 2. Exposure to carbon dioxide. 3. However, the competent authority may permit the use of other scientifically recognized killing  methods provided that they comply with the general provisions of Article 3. II. Specific requirements 1. Use of a mechanical apparatus producing rapid death(a) The animals  must be killed by an apparatus which contains rapidly rotating mechanically operated killing blades  or expanded polystyrene projections. (b) The capacity of the apparatus must be sufficient to ensure that all animals are killed  immediately, even if they are handled in large numbers. 2. Exposure to carbon dioxide(a) The animals must be placed in an atmosphere with the highest  obtainable concentration of carbon dioxide, supplied by a source of 100 % carbon dioxide. (b) The animals must remain in this atmosphere until they are dead. III. Permitted method for the killing of embryos 1. To kill any living embryos instantaneously,  all hatchery waste must be treated by the mechanical apparatus mentioned in point II (1). 2. However, the competent authority may permit the use of other scientifically recognized killing  methods provided that they comply with the general provisions of Article 3.