Transport of animals to slaughter
Level: Core
Animals that are transported to slaughter can be subjected to varying levels of physical and mental stress. When animals are transported over long distances, their stress can increase; it is therefore important to uphold animal welfare and keep journey times to a minimum.
Details
- Type:
- Technical specification
- ID:
- 10762:1
- Group:
- Pork
- Swedish:
Criterion text
Meat must be sourced from animals that have been transported for no longer than eight hours to slaughter. The transport time is how long it takes for a shipment to arrive from the point of departure to its destination, including loading and unloading.
If the transport time to the nearest slaughterhouse exceeds eight hours, the transport time may on isolated occasions be extended by a maximum of three hours if the vehicle meets at least the following conditions for long-distance transportation:
- It must be possible to access the animals for inspection.
- It must be possible to give the animals water on the transport.
- There must be satisfactory ventilation and temperature-regulation systems that can be adjusted according to the internal and external temperatures.
- There must be dividers for creating separate sections adapted to the needs of the animals.
- There must be sufficient litter to keep the animals comfortable.
Verification
Upon request, the supplier shall be ready to present one of the following; for example:
- Information about the country in which transport to slaughter took place and reference to applicable law in cases where the requirement is covered by national legislation, such as:
- Sweden: Chapter 2, Section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act (2018:1192), Chapter 5, Section 13 of SJVFS 2019:7, item No. L5.
- Valid licence/certificate for labelling/certification that covers the requirement, such as the section on transport to slaughter in IP Livsmedel Grundcertifiering, Bedre Dyrevelfærd one heart, Beter Leven one heart, or an equivalent standard.
- Other means of proof guaranteeing that the requirement is met.
Proposed follow-up
One method of follow-up is to conduct spot checks of delivered products. In that case, one of the following can be checked:
- Origin marking on the product if the requirement is covered by national legislation, such as "Ursprung Sverige", "Kött från Sverige" or "Från Sverige", Svenskt Sigill.
- A valid certificate on the part of the transporter that covers the requirement, such as the section on transport to slaughter in IP Livsmedel Grundcertifiering, Bedre Dyrevelfærd ene heart, Beter Leven one star, or the equivalent.
- Other means of proof guaranteeing that the requirement is met.
You are encouraged to enlist the help of specialised expertise in your organisation for checking the submitted verification of compliance with the requirement. This could, for example, consist of an environmental or sustainability strategist with extensive knowledge in sustainability issues.
Motive
Most animals in food production are not killed in proximity to the farm in which they were raised but are transported to a slaughterhouse. Loading, transportation and unloading can to varying degrees, be physically and mentally stressful for animals, and can differ depending on species. Long-distance transportation can increase the pressure that the animals are under, which, by extension, can increase their risk of suffering from stress, injuries and pain, or getting sick or dying. It is therefore important to uphold animal welfare and keep journey times to a minimum.
The basic rule according to Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport is that travel time for all animals, regardless of the purpose of the transport, may not exceed eight hours. However, by complying with extended requirements relating to transport vehicles etc., animals can be transported for considerably longer than this. The EU regulation allows member states to decide for themselves whether to introduce a maximum limit of eight hours for transporting animals to slaughter within the member's country borders, which is the case with Sweden and other countries
Versions history
The version date indicates when the sustainability criterion was created or last updated. Last reviewed dated tells when we last checked that the sustainability criterion still is relevant.
- Current ID
- 10762:1
- Version date
- 2022-05-27
2022-05-27, Requirement ID 10762: 1: Requirement text is adjusted for increased stringency with the Swedish Board of Agriculture's regulations. Motif text has been adjusted. Finland and Denmark removed as verification. Proof of origin Sweden has been supplemented with legal reference. Included in the Requirements Package National Food Strategy. 2013-10-17, Requirement ID 10762: Original version