RT Journal Article
T1 The use of high expansion foam for stunning and killing pigs and poultry
A1 EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare, 
A1 Nielsen, Søren Saxmose
A1 Álvarez Sánchez, Julio
A1 Bicout, Dominique Joseph
A1 Calistri, Paolo
A1 Canali, Elisabetta
A1 Drewe, Julian Ashley
A1 Garin Bastuji, Bruno
A1 Gonzales Rojas, José Luis
A1 Gortázar, Christian
A1 Herskin, Mette S.
A1 Miranda Chueca, Miguel Ángel
A1 Paladino, Bárbara
A1 Roberts, Helen Clare
A1 Spoolder, Hans
A1 Stahl, Carl
A1 Velarde, Antonio
A1 Winckler, Christoph
A1 Viltrop, Alvo
A1 Martin, Jessica
A1 Raj, Mohan
A1 Vyssotski, Alexei
A1 Van der Stede, Yves
A1 Vitali, Marika
A1 Manakidou, Aikaterini
A1 Michel, Virginie
AB The EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the use of high-expansion foam for stunning and killing pigs and poultry. A dossier was provided by the applicant as the basis for an assessment of the extent to which the method is able to provide a level of animal welfare at least equivalent to that ensured by the currently allowed methods for pigs and poultry. According to legislation, to be approved in the EU, new stunning methods must ensure (1) the absence of pain, distress or suffering until the onset of unconsciousness, and (2) that the animal remains unconscious until death. An ad hoc Working Group set up by EFSA performed the assessment as follows: (1) The data provided were checked against the criteria laid down in the EFSA Guidance (EFSA, 2018), and was found to partially fulfil those criteria; (2) extensive literature search; (3) data extraction for quantitative assessment; (4) qualitative exercise based on non-formal expert elicitation. The assessment led to conclude that it is more likely than not (certainty > 50%–100%) that high-expansion foam for stunning and killing pigs and poultry, named NEFS in container (Nitrogen Expansion Foam Stunning in container), provides a level of welfare at least equivalent to one or more of the currently allowed methods listed in Annex I of Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009. The overall assessment of EFSA is valid only under the technical conditions described in this Opinion for laying hens, broiler chickens of all age and pigs weighing 15–41 kg in situations other than slaughter. The overall assessment of EFSA is that NEFS can be suitable for depopulation using containers for pig and poultry farms respecting the technical conditions and the categories and types of animals defined in this Scientific Opinion.
PB Wiley
SN 1831-4732
YR 2024
FD 2024-07-12
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/107482
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/107482
LA eng
NO EFSA AHAW Panel (EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare), Nielsen, S. S., Alvarez, J., Bicout, D. J., Calistri, P., Canali, E., Drewe, J. A., Garin-Bastuji, B., Gonzales Rojas, J. L., Gortázar, C., Herskin, M. S., Miranda Chueca, M. Á., Padalino, B., Roberts, H. C., Spoolder, H., Stahl, K., Velarde, A., Winckler, C., Viltrop, A., … Michel, V. (2024). The use of high expansion foam for stunning and killing pigs and poultry. EFSA Journal, 22(7), e8855. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2024.8855
DS Docta Complutense
RD 8 abr 2025