biostudies-literatureUnknown23(1)EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW)The objective of this Scientific Opinion is to assess the hazards and welfare consequences associated with the slaughter of horses for human consumption. The entire slaughter procedure, from arrival at the slaughterhouse until death, is divided into three phases: Phase 1 - pre-stunning, Phase 2 - stunning and Phase 3 - bleeding. Phase 1 includes the following processes (in chronological order): (a) arrival, (b) unloading of the animals from the vehicle, (c) lairage, (d) handling and moving to the stunning area and (e) restraint before application of the stunning method. Phase 2 encompasses the stunning methods, while Phase 3 involves the bleeding process (i.e. exsanguination following stunning). Stunning methods for horses include penetrative captive bolt and firearms. Welfare consequencesEFSA journal. European Food Safety Authoritye9178https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11773340biostudies-literatureWelfare of horses at slaughter.PMC11773340Velarde AAlvarez JNannoni ECandiani DMiranda Chueca MADippel SNielsen SSDorea FTuyttens FBoklund AStahl KHerskin MNonno RWinckler CVan der Stede YFiguerola JRiber ARaj MEFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW)Stegeman JAThulke HHMichel VfalseWelfare of horses at slaughter.The objective of this Scientific Opinion is to assess the hazards and welfare consequences associated with the slaughter of horses for human consumption. The entire slaughter procedure, from arrival at the slaughterhouse until death, is divided into three phases: Phase 1 - pre-stunning, Phase 2 - stunning and Phase 3 - bleeding. Phase 1 includes the following processes (in chronological order): (a) arrival, (b) unloading of the animals from the vehicle, (c) lairage, (d) handling and moving to the stunning area and (e) restraint before application of the stunning method. Phase 2 encompasses the stunning methods, while Phase 3 involves the bleeding process (i.e. exsanguination following stunning). Stunning methods for horses include penetrative captive bolt and firearms. Welfare consequences2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Jan2025-04-18T16:48:38.758Z2025-04-07T04:15:46.668ZS-EPMC117733403987730410.2903/j.efsa.2025.9178