Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which (a) level of local government or (b) public body or bodies are responsible for the enforcement of the Welfare at Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015.

The Welfare at Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015 are enforced by Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and local authorities. The FSA has official veterinarians present in slaughterhouses to monitor and enforce animal welfare at slaughter. APHA and local authority inspectors appointed under the regulations are responsible for monitoring and enforcement of requirements outside of a slaughterhouse, such as killing on farm or in a knacker’s yard. The level of local government undertaking enforcement may vary between areas, based on a locally agreed division of responsibilities between the tiers of local government.