GovWire

The Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (England) Regulations 2015 (WATOK) implement and enforce Council Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing (PATOK) and contain stricter national rules that provide greater protection for animals at the time of killing (maintaining existing domestic requirements). The objectives of WATOK were to ensure there was no overall reduction in existing welfare standards and ensure the UK met the obligations and requirements that PATOK places on Member States.

The PIR recommended that the regulations should be retained. As originally submitted, the PIR was not fit for purpose; RPC noted that the PIR did not adequately recognise or respond to concerns from some stakeholders that the regulations had increased burdens, a point which in the RPCs view would have rendered the PIR not fit for purpose to support the recommendation to retain the WATOK . The RPC now considers the post-implementation review (PIR) to be fit for purpose.