WRITTEN QUESTION E-2516/01 by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission. Animal slaughter without the use of pithing rods.
Date: 2001-09-14
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: animal welfare, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, consumer protection, disease prevention, public health, slaughter of animals

C 115 E/108

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

16.5.2002

No prod.

1997

Surface
hectares

Tonnes

No prod.

1998

Surface
hectares

Tonnes

No prod.

1999

Surface
hectares

Tonnes

37 959

47 521

130 519

43 753

46 435

132 031

32 568

42 735

132 509

79

794

101

2 512

227

5 992

78

622

103

2 611

234

7 025

85

571

110

2 192

244

5 925

I

AT

P

Total

121 581

136 203

335 075

123 936

139 100

342 021

112 659

133 569

345 225

Source: Communications from Member States on the basis of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1771/93.

(1) OJ C 219 E, 1.8.2000.
(2) COM(2001) 264 final.
(3) OJ C 270 E, 25.9.2001.

(2002/C 115 E/111)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2516/01

by Daniela Raschhofer (NI) to the Commission

(14 September 2001)

Subject: Animal slaughter without the use of ‘pithing rods’

The EU has prohibited the practice of ‘pithing’ on grounds of consumer protection. Captive-bolt guns,
which should stun effectively, are frequently used incorrectly with the result that animals are not fully
stunned during slaughter. It has been revealed, therefore, that partially stunned animals are hung on hooks
and butchered while still alive.

Since the right of all
Commission say:

living organisms to a dignified life and death should be respected, will

the

8 whether the ban on ‘pithing’ is absolutely essential to ensure that no part of the spinal cord enters the
bloodstream? Are there any clear scientific findings concluding that a ban is the only logical solution?

8 whether there are any effective alternative methods of stunning which would obviate the need for

‘pithing’ and achieve the aim of protecting consumers in the same way as the ban?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(29 October 2001)

The prohibition of pithing in relation to animal slaughter is based on opinions from the Scientific Steering
Committee (SSC). These opinions bring out the fact that certain slaughter techniques including pithing are
recognised to release particles of brain-tissue, potentially containing transmissible spongiform encephalo-
pathy (TSE) infectivity, into the blood stream and therefore should be banned. Further details, can be found
in the opinion on the safety of ruminant blood with respect to TSE risks adopted by the SSC on
13-14 April 2000 and published on Internet at the following address: http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/
sc/ssc/outcome_en.html.

The rules to ensure animal welfare at slaughter and killing, including appropriate methods for stunning,
are laid down in Council Directive 93/119/EC of 22 December 1993 on the protection of animals at the
time of slaughter or killing (1). Pithing is not a stunning method, but was used to stop post-stunning
convulsions before the animal was shackled. Even before the entry into force of the prohibition, pithing
was only used in a limited number of slaughterhouses in certain Member States.

(1) OJ L 340, 31.12.1993.