Knacker's yard and on-farm killing: standard operating procedures
How to unload, keep, move, handle, restrain, stun and kill animals not meant for human consumption.
Applies to England
If you run a knacker’s yard, you must provide your staff with standardised instructions on how to treat animals when they’re working with them.
These instructions are called standard operating procedures (SOPs).
The purpose of SOPs is to spare the animals any avoidable pain or distress.
When you need SOPs
Your SOPs must set out how to:
- unload animals
- keep animals in holding pens and fields (lairage)
- move and handle animals
- restrain animals
- stun and kill animals
- monitor the stunning of animals
You cannot use the same SOP for an activity that involves 2 different types of animals. For example, you need a SOP for unloading cattle and a SOP for unloading sheep.
An inspector may ask to see your SOPs. You can look at a sample SOP on the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) website.
SOP for animal stunning
For each method you use to stun animals, you need to have a SOP which:
- states the methods you can use and the relevant factors
- takes into account the manufacturer’s recommendations on using and maintaining any stunning equipment you use
- explains how to check an animal has been properly stunned and check for signs of consciousness and unconsciousness
- explains what to do if an animal has not been properly stunned
Maintaining equipment
You must maintain equipment for restraining and stunning in line with the manufacturer’s instructions. You must keep records each time you carry out maintenance.
You must keep these records for at least one year as inspectors can ask to see them.
Updates to this page
Last updated 5 June 2023 + show all updates
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Content has been reviewed as part of improvements to the welfare of animals at the time of killing pages. Updates approved by Welfare at Slaughter team.
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Added a link to BMPA standard operating procedures
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First published.