The British pork sector has slammed the government’s bid to end the use of CO2 in the pre-slaughter stunning of pigs.
The government has today launched a consultation into phasing out the practice in favour of “more humane methods”, including the use of argon gas and automated electrical stunning.
But the British Meat Processors Association, Association of Independent Meat Suppliers and National Pig Association have criticised the move.
The organisations have questioned the commercial viability of alternative methods of stunning, saying it would make British pork less competitive with product from overseas.
BMPA chief executive John Powell said the industry was “very disappointed”, adding that “just removing one option without knowing what the alternatives are threatens wider issues: the future of the industry, the future of the viability and food security.”
He warned that “the cost of converting to something we don’t know yet works would be horrendous”.
“We would have preferred them to commission some research to see what alternatives are there; what benefits they may bring in terms of welfare; what they may cost in terms of throughput; and what they may cost in terms of transforming current systems to any new systems that may be needed,” he added.
NPA chief executive Lizzie Wilson raised similar concerns saying that while the use of CO2 “presents welfare concerns”, “so far, research and trials have not revealed any feasible alternative which can provide improve pig welfare at commercial scale and therefore be adopted immediately”.
She added that the proposed two to three year transition period was “unworkable”.
Powell also questioned the proximity of the consultation to the signing of the SPS agreement, which is expected to bring closer alignment with the EU.
“Given the European Commission hasn’t yet ruled on whether the EU will be looking to remove CO2 as a means of free stun for the slaughter of pigs and poultry, we’ll be competitively disadvantaging ourselves immediately,” he said.
This concern was echoed by AIMS, which has called on the government to suspend the consultation until the SPS negotiations have concluded.
In an open letter to the government, its executive director Dr Jason Aldiss said overseas suppliers retaining their existing systems “could gain a cost advantage” over UK producers.
“The policy risks shifting production, investment and jobs overseas while British consumers continue buying pork produced using the same stunning method,” added Aldiss.
It comes as the pork sector is already under increased pressure, with warnings from the NPA in May that it was at breaking point thanks to abattoir closures and breakdowns, falling demand, trade turbulence and soaring energy costs all contributing to a “perfect storm” for the sector.
Welfare charities welcome move
Despite criticism from industry, animal welfare charities and campaign groups welcomed the announcement.
“No one wants to think about animals being slaughtered, but we cannot ignore how the food on our plates is produced, or we have no hope of progressing farmed animal welfare,” said RSPCA director of advocacy and prevention Thomas Schultz-Jagow.
The charity, which has opposed CO2 stunning pre-slaughter “for many years,” sent a petition calling on the government to end the practice in June 2025.
“Pigs are sentient and intelligent animals deserve a good quality life and a humane death,” Schultz-Jagow added.
Compassion in World Farming has also welcomed the announcement as an “important first step” to moving towards more humane alternatives.
“CO2 slaughter causes horrendous suffering for the nine million pigs slaughtered every year using this cruel and outdated method,” said CIWF UK head Anthony Field. ”The change cannot come soon enough.
“We hope the outcome of this consultation will be an ambitious timeline for phasing out cruel CO2 slaughter for pigs.”
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