Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/723 of 16 May 2018 amending Annexes I and II to Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing as regards the approval of low atmospheric pressure stunning (Text with EEA relevance. )

Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 is amended as follows: (1) Annex I is amended as follows: (a) Table 3 of Chapter I is amended as follows: (i) the title is replaced by the following: ‘Table 3 — Controlled atmosphere methods’; (ii) the following row 7 is added: NoNameDescriptionConditions of useKey parametersSpecific requirements of Chapter II of this Annex‘7Low atmospheric pressure stunningExposure of conscious animals to gradual decompression with reduction in available oxygen to less than 5 %. Broiler chickens up to 4 kg live weight. Slaughter, depopulation and other situations. Rate of decompression. Duration of exposure. Ambient temperature and humidity. Points 10.1 to 10.5’ (b) in Chapter II, the following point 10 is added: ‘10. Low atmospheric pressure stunning 10.1. During the first phase, the decompression rate shall not be greater than equivalent to a reduction in pressure from standard sea level atmospheric pressure 760 to 250 Torr for a period of not less than 50 seconds. 10.2. During a second phase, a minimum standard sea level atmospheric pressure of 160 Torr shall be reached within the following 210 seconds. 10.3. The pressure time curve shall be adjusted to ensure that all birds are irreversibly stunned within the cycle time. 10.4. The chamber shall be leak tested and pressure gauges calibrated before each operational session and not less than daily. 10.5. Records of absolute vacuum pressure, time of exposure, temperature and humidity shall be kept for at least one year.’; (2) in Annex II, the following point 7 is added: ‘7. Low atmospheric pressure stunning 7.1. Low atmospheric pressure stunning equipment shall be designed and built to ensure a vacuum of the chamber enabling slow gradual decompression with reduction in available oxygen and holding at minimal pressure. 7.2. The system shall be equipped to measure continuously, display and record the absolute vacuum pressure, the time of exposure, the temperature, the humidity and to give a clearly visible and audible warning if the pressure deviates from the required levels. The device shall be clearly visible to the personnel.’.

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.