L.S. 439.03 Regolamenti dwar il-Protezzjoni ta’ Annimali waqt it-Tbiċċir jew il-Qatla

(1)The title of these regulations is the Animal Slaughter or Killing (Protection) Regulations. Title and scope. Amended by: L.N. 213 of 2023.

(2)These regulations 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.

(3)These regulations shall not apply to (a) technical or scientific experiments relating to the procedures mentioned in sub-regulation

(1), carried out under the supervision of the Veterinary Services; (

1. b)animals which are killed in cultural or sports events; (
2. c)wild game killed in accordance with article 3 of European Union Council Directive 92/45/EEC.

(4)The scope of these regulations is to implement the requirements of the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/ 2009 of 24 September 2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing and to impose fines and penalties when there is a breach of these regulations.

1. For the purposes of these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, terms and expressions used in these regulations shall have the same meaning as assigned to them in the Act and Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 of 24 September 2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing. "Act" means the Animal Welfare Act; Interpretation. Substituted by: L.N. 213 of
2. Cap.
3. "competent authority" means the Veterinary Services.
4. Animals shall be spared any avoidable excitement, pain or suffering during movement, lairaging, restraint, stunning, slaughter or killing. Avoidable excitement, pain and suffering to animals. Chapter II Requirements applicable to slaughterhouses
5. Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
6. Construction, facilities and equipment of slaughterhouses. 2 [ S.L.439.03 ANIMAL SLAUGHTER OR KILLING (PROTECTION) Methods used for slaughter in slaughterhouses.
7. Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
8. Instruments, restraint, equipment and installation used for stunning and killing.
9. Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
10. Who may engage in the movement, lairaging, restraint, stunning, slaughter or killing of animals.
11. Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
12. Inspections and controls in slaughterhouses.
13. Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
14. Chapter III Slaughter and killing outwith slaughterhouses Application of regulation
16. Animals slaughtered or killed for disease control.
17. Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
18. Killing of animals for emergency reasons.
19. Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
20. Killing on the spot of injured or diseased animals.
21. Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
22. Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
23. Chapter IV Final provisions Procedure adopted in accordance with the European Commission and in accordance to the procedure laid down under article 11 of the Animal Welfare Act. Cap.
25. Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
26. On-the-spot checks by veterinary experts.
27. Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
28. Health certificate accompanying meat.
29. Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
30. Penalty for nonfulfilment of obligations. Cap.
31. Amended by: L.N. 426 of 2007; L.N. 213 of
32. 16.

(1)Subject to the provisions of these regulations and of the Animal Welfare Act, a person who infringes any of the provisions arising from these regulations, shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine (multa) of not less than eleven thousand and six hundred and forty-six euro and eighty-seven cents (11,646.87) and not more than thirty-four thousand and nine hundred and forty euro and sixty cents (34,940.60).

(2)Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-regulation

(1), the Court may also order any person who is found guilty of ANIMAL SLAUGHTER OR KILLING (PROTECTION) [ S.L.439.03 3 committing an offence under these regulations, to pay for the expenses incurred by the Veterinary Services as a result of the said offence, the revocation of the permit issued under these regulations and the confiscation, retention and disposal of the corpus delicti.

(3)Where the Director for Veterinary Services has reasonable cause to believe that a breach of these regulations has been committed, he shall proceed in accordance with article 47 of the Act.

1. No animal which is not kept or bred for agricultural purposes may be killed for food consumption without the authorisation of the Veterinary Services Animals which cannot be killed for food consumption. 4 [ S.L.439.03 ANIMAL SLAUGHTER OR KILLING (PROTECTION) SCHEDULE A Requirements for the movement and lairaging of animals in slaughterhouses Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
2. SCHEDULE B Restraint of animals before stunning, slaughter or killing Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
3. SCHEDULE C Stunning or killing of animals other than animals reared for fur Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
4. SCHEDULE D Bleeding of animals Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
5. SCHEDULE E Killing methods for disease control Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
6. SCHEDULE F Methods of killing fur animals Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
7. SCHEDULE G Killing of surplus chicks and embryos in hatchery waste Repealed by Legal Notice 213 of
8. ANIMAL SLAUGHTER OR KILLING (PROTECTION) [ S.L.439.03 5