The use of Diathermic Syncope® for stunning cattle

Abstract

The EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) was asked to deliver a sci-entific opinion on the use of Diathermic Syncope® (DTS) for stunning cattle. A dos-sier was provided by the applicant as the basis for an assessment of the extent towhich the method is able to provide a level of animal welfare at least equivalent tothat ensured by the currently allowed methods for stunning cattle. This scientificopinion followed the EFSA Guidance (2018) on the assessment criteria for applica-tions for new or modified stunning methods regarding animal protection at timeof killing. Under Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009, approval of novel stunningmethods requires demonstration of (1) the absence of pain, distress or sufferinguntil the onset of unconsciousness and (2) that the animal remains unconsciousuntil death. An ad hoc Working Group (WG) by EFSA performed the assessmentas follows: (1) check of provided data against the criteria laid down in the EFSAGuidance; (2) extensive literature search; (3) data extraction and quantitative as-sessment; (4) exercise based on non-formal expert elicitation and qualitative as-sessment. Although the data and studies provided in the dossier only partiallyfulfilled the necessary criteria, they were sufficient to proceed with the animalwelfare risk assessment. According to the data and the use of DTS parameterisedby the applicant (delivering 160–200 kJ of energy and an incident power of 16–20kW for 10 s), DTS does not ensure a level of welfare at least equivalent to one ormore of the currently allowed methods listed in Annex I of Council Regulation (EC)No 1099/2009.