Document type : Technical Instruction DGAL/SDSanimal welfare/2021-866 issued by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Author: French Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Preview: From 31 December 2021, live castration is prohibited and only veterinarians may perform the castration of domestic pigs. As an exception, keepers of domestic pigs and their employees may castrate male piglets aged seven days or less. They are permitted to use any analgesic or local anaesthetic treatment, on condition that these medicines are authorised for administration by members of the public. After a recapitulation of the regulations, this instruction specifies, on the one hand, conditions for the training of those carrying out castration protocols under local anaesthesia and analgesia and, on the other hand, the procedures by which a derogation should be issued, defining the role of each actor. The other alternatives to the cessation of the live castration of piglets are not discussed here.