HC Deb 02 July 1997 vol 297 c196W
Sir Richard Body

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he plans to take to ensure compliance by abattoirs with paragraph 9(a)(ii) of Schedule 5 to the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995; and if he will make a statement. [6066]

Mr. Morley

Recent developments will help both enforcement staff and slaughterhouse operators to ensure full compliance with this requirement. A testing unit has been developed which will confirm whether electrical stunning equipment contains an effective impedance device ("fail-safe"). In addition, a "fail-safe" device which may be fitted into existing stunning equipment is expected to be available commercially later this year. Once this equipment is available, appropriate enforcement action will then be taken when necessary.

Sir Richard Body

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he plans to take to reduce the incidence of pre-stun electric shocks experience by turkeys at slaughter; and if he will make a statement. [6065]

Mr. Morley

The Government wish to see the highest standards of welfare at slaughter and this is one area where improvement can be achieved. Research, funded by this Ministry and others, has already suggested ways of reducing pre-stun shocks, and commercial trials on further developments are in progress. We are also supporting proposals issued by the European Commission to amend the present rules on slaughter to require slaughterhouse operators to take measures to prevent pre-stun shocks in turkeys.