Slaughterer

Regulators
  • Food Standards Scotland
  • Scottish Ministers
Nations
  • Scotland
Sectors
  • Other

Regulatory or professional bodies

Primary regulator

Regulatory authority
Food Standards Scotland
Address

4th Floor, Pilgrim House
Aberdeen
AB11 5RL

Email address
enquiries@fss.scot
Phone number
+44 (0)1224 285 100

Oversight body

Regulatory authority
Scottish Ministers
Address

Scottish Government, St. Andrew's House, Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

Email address
ceu@gov.scot
Phone number
+44 (0)3002 444 000

Regulation

Regulation summary

Retained (EU) Regulation 1099/2009 (Article 7) requires that killing of animals and related operations should only be carried out by individuals with the appropriate level of competence. This means that slaughter operations can only be carried out by a person holding a Certificate of Competence (CoC), either full or temporary.

FSS has legal obligation to appoint slaughterers/animal handlers in Scotland and are enabled to issue full and temporary CoCs. These certificates show the species on which the slaughterer/animal handler may perform operations, as well as the equipment they are able to use and the types of operations they may perform.

Regulation type

Licence

Reserved activities

Anyone carrying out certain slaughter operations involving live animals up to the point of death (not unconsciousness) must hold a Certificate of Competence (CoC), under the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (WATOK) Regulations.

A Certificate of Competence (CoC) from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is needed to do any of the following in an FSA-approved slaughterhouse:

• handle animals before they’re restrained
• restrain animals for stunning or killing
• stun animals
• check stunning has worked
• shackle or hoisting live animals
• bleed live animals
• religious slaughter
• pithing of a stunned animal
• check pithing has worked

More about regulated activities and titles
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2009/1099/contents

Qualifications and experience

New professionals

Routes to qualification

To become qualified Slaughterer, you must:
(1) Register to train with an approved trainer accredited by the FDQ
(2) Provide evidence of registration to the Official Veterinarian (OV) to obtain a temporary Certificate of Competence (CoC)
(3) During the 3 months the temporary CoC is valid,
(a) Training must be completed
(b) The assessment successfully passed.
(4) Apply for a full CoC using the qualification certificate.

Professionals from other UK nations

Routes to recognition within the UK

If you have a CoC or a WATOK licence issued in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you can use it in Scotland for the procedures, equipment and animals listed

Professionals from outside the UK

Recognition for professionals outside the UK
Some - qualifications from some countries may be recognised, but professionals from other countries will have to re-qualify
Summary of routes

As the UK has left the EU, a CoC issued anywhere other than in the UK is no longer valid and cannot be accepted to carry out duties in approved slaughterhouses. Citizens from the Republic of Ireland (ROI) can apply for a UK CoC with details of their current ROI CoC, and the appropriate fee. A UK CoC will be issued on an equivalence basis for the same species and operations


Registration

Registration requirements

You must apply to the FSA for a Temporary Certificate of Competence (TCoC) or a full Certificate of Competence (CoC). There is an application fee of £25 for a full CoC.


Legislation

Title of relevant act or charter

The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Scotland) Regulations 2015

Title of relevant act or charter

Retained (EU) Regulation 1099/2009

Licence Finder

You may need licences and permits to carry out certain activities in the UK. These are called authorisations. Use the licence finder to find what you need.