Can an individual kill an animal to eat?

The slaughter of animals intended for human consumption must be carried out in an approved slaughterhouse, where each carcase is subject to a health inspection.

However, the individual raising sheep, goats, pigs, hens or rabbits can slaughter an animal himself if it is intended exclusively for personal consumption :

• You can only slaughter animals yourself which you have previously raised and maintained on site. You can't buy an animal just to slaughter it.
• And meat and offal of slaughtered animals may not be sold or given to a third party.

The slaughter of a cow, calf or horse outside an approved slaughterhouse shall be prohibited.

Conditions for slaughter

Slaughter must be carried out in such a way as to avoid any pain, distress or suffering which might be avoided by the animals.

Slaughter outside an approved slaughterhouse must comply with the same rules as in an approved slaughterhouse as regards stunning, slaughtering or killing operations.

The animal must be stunned before being killed in accordance with the methods authorized by the regulations (slaughter without prior stunning is prohibited). The animal must be bled immediately after stunning, in any case before regaining consciousness.

Serious abuse or cruelty to a domestic animal, tamed or captive, is a criminal offense under the penal code.

Obligation to declare animals

The individual who raises one or more sheep or goats or pigs must have their animals identified and register with the livestock establishment (EDE) of their department.

To find out the contact details of your EDE and the procedure to follow, contact the regional chamber of agriculture.

The individual must inform the EDE within 7 days of the acquisition or disposal of an animal. It must also inform the EDE in the event of the death of an animal at the latest when the corpse is removed.

In addition, the individual must also designate a health veterinarian as of 1^er animal held on the dedicated form:

Designation of the animal health veterinarian by the animal keeper

The list of veterinarians with the health authorization in your department is available on the website of your prefecture or on request from the Departmental Directorate of Population Protection (DDPP).

The form completed and signed by the veterinarian should be sent to the Departmental Directorate for the Protection of Populations (DDPP) of your prefecture.

The individual who raises one or more hens must declare their animals to the mayor of the place where the birds are kept.