The UK government has launched a public consultation on proposals that would affect millions of products sold at UK supermarkets. Officials have set out models for either a two- or three-year plan to phase in the change.
Proposal to ban CO2 stunning
Government department Defra has set out plans to ban the use of carbon dioxide gas to stun pigs prior to slaughter, a move that could reshape supply chains across major supermarkets. Currently, around 90 per cent of pigs in the UK are stunned using high concentrations of CO2 before slaughter, with some 10 to 11 million pigs slaughtered across the UK each year.
This method is used in the supply chains of leading retailers including Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's, Aldi, Lidl, Co-op, Marks & Spencer, and Waitrose.
Welfare concerns drive the change
According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), it wants to outlaw the practice to address widespread concerns over animal suffering during the process. An introduction to the consultation explains: "The evidence that carbon dioxide gas stunning causes significant pain, suffering and distress to pigs at the time of killing is well known."
"There is now clear evidence that alternative permitted stunning methods, such as the use of inert gases, will significantly reduce these welfare issues for pigs. We believe that a ban on carbon dioxide stunning of pigs in slaughterhouses and knacker's yards would result in a significant improvement to pig welfare at the time of killing, and that the transition away from carbon dioxide stunning should be managed in a way that allows the industry to make the necessary technological changes to convert current systems and maintain economic viability."
RSPCA welcomes the move
Animal welfare advocates from the RSPCA have welcomed the move, after their years of campaigning against CO2 stunning. Thomas Schultz-Jagow, director of advocacy and prevention at the RSPCA, said: "Every year, millions of pigs suffer distress and pain when slaughtered using CO2, so this is a critical welfare issue."
"No one wants to think about animals being slaughtered, but we cannot ignore how the food on our plates is produced, or we have no hope of progressing farmed animal welfare." He said consumers should think about the welfare of pigs and how pork products are made.
The expert said: "Pigs are sentient and intelligent animals deserve a good quality life and a humane death. We welcome the Government's commitment to end this slaughter method and we will work with them to drive this critical change forward to improve the welfare of pigs as soon as possible."
December deadline for responses
The consultation invites feedback from anyone on the plans, with consumers, agricultural workers, and retailers invited to share their thoughts.
Defra has outlined potential transition windows of either two or three years, to give abattoirs time to adopt alternative methods.
The public consultation remains open until December 21. Responses can be submitted online via the Defra website, emailed to aw.slaughter@defra.gov.uk, or sent in the mail to: Carbon Dioxide Stunning of Pigs Consultation, Farm Animal Welfare Team, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Seacole Building 2nd Floor, 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF.
