The HSA welcomes Defra's new welfare reforms for pigs, farmed fish and crustaceans at slaughter
22 December 2025
We are delighted to see that Defra's new Animal Welfare Strategy for England includes commitments to ban high-concentration CO₂ for stunning pigs and to introduce specific, enforceable legislation to protect the welfare of farmed fish at slaughter. We are also pleased to see commitments to improve the welfare of decapod crustaceans at slaughter, including clarification that live boiling of crabs and lobsters is not acceptable. All of these measures are vital reforms that will prevent millions of animals each year from experiencing avoidable pain and distress at the time of slaughter.
Banning carbon dioxide slaughter of pigs.
Humane, practical alternatives to CO₂ are available and should be implemented without undue delay, and we welcome the Government’s recognition of this. The HSA made a strong case for the replacement of CO₂ over the past year including in our responses to the Animal Welfare Committee’s consultation on the issue.
It will now be important to work with all stakeholders to ensure that the most humane alternatives to CO₂ are implemented without delay. At the HSA, we are committed to contributing our expertise to support the speedy adoption of more humane pig slaughter methods. We will also be strongly advocating for similar phase-outs of CO₂ globally.
Detailed protections for farmed fish
Giving farmed fish the same detailed, enforceable protections at the time of slaughter as terrestrial animals is an essential step towards helping ensure all farmed animals are treated with the care they deserve. We look forward to contributing our expertise to the development of these detailed regulations to ensure the slaughter of farmed fish is as well-regulated as the slaughter of mammals and poultry. As with the replacement of CO₂, we will advocate for the adoption of similar protections in countries worldwide.
Welfare of decapod crustaceans at slaughter
We are pleased to see acknowledgement of the need to clarify which methods of slaughter are acceptable for decapod crustaceans. The HSA has committed significant research funding to support the development and testing of humane electrical stunning methods for these species. We also welcome the clarification that the inhumane practice of live boiling of these animals is not an acceptable method of killing.
Overall, we look forward to seeing these important improvements to the welfare of animals at slaughter come to fruition over the coming months and to contributing our expertise to their practical implementation.