Use of high concentrations of CO2 to stun and kill pigs

That this House notes that 86 per cent of pigs in the UK are slaughtered with high concentrations of CO2; notes that scientific studies report that CO2 causes severe respiratory distress, pain, and hyperventilation and gasping before loss of consciousness; acknowledges that in 2003 the Government’s Farm Animal Welfare Council concluded that the use of high concentrations of CO2 to stun and kill pigs is not acceptable and urged the practice to be phased out in five years; further notes that no such phase out has been implemented; and calls on the Government to increase the research currently being undertaken into alternative methods of slaughter with a view to phasing out stunning with high concentrations of CO2 within five years.