Document type: Answer to Question E-002317/2026 from the European Commission
Authors: Question: Tilly Metz (Greens/EFA), Petras Auštrevičius (Renew), David Cormand (Greens/EFA), Anja Hazekamp (The Left), Manuela Ripa (EPP), Krzysztof Śmiszek (S&D), Sebastian Everding (The Left), Sigrid Friis (Renew), Ville Niinistö (Greens/EFA), Marianne Vind (S&D), Niels Fuglsang (S&D), Emma Fourreau (The Left), Sirpa Pietikäinen (EPP). Response: Mr. Várhelyi on behalf of the European Commission
Question in French:
Each year in the European Union, more than 150 million pigs are stunned with CO₂ before slaughter. The method causes pain, fear, revulsion, and severe respiratory distress before the animals lose consciousness. In its 2004 and 2020 opinions, the European Food Safety Authority identified CO₂ stunning as a serious animal welfare concern, concluding that suffering is inherent and cannot be mitigated by technical improvements. The Commission has acknowledged this, notably in its responses to written questions E-003066/2025[1] and E-000625/2026[2], that the PigStun project had identified viable and already authorized alternatives, listed in Annex I of Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009[3].
No timeline has been provided regarding the revision or phasing out of CO₂ stunning. The notion that the industry would opt for a voluntary transition is not supported by any concrete data, particularly in light of the PigStun project’s findings that slaughterhouses are unlikely to abandon existing systems due to concerns regarding costs, reliability, and competitiveness. Given the suffering involved, the available alternatives, and the commitments made by the Commission as part of the “Farm to Fork” strategy to revise animal welfare legislation, this persistent delay raises serious questions regarding compatibility with Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The revision should include binding, time-bound rules aimed at phasing out the use of CO₂ for stunning pigs.
In light of the above:
1. When will the Commission present the revision of Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009?
2. If no revision is planned, what are the reasons for this?
Answer in French:
As stated in the answer to written parliamentary question E-000625/2026[1], the alternative solutions evaluated as part of the PigStun project[2], as well as methods involving lower CO₂ concentrations, are already included on the positive list in Annex I of Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009[3] and their use is authorized in the Union without the need to amend the regulations.
As announced in the 2025 Communication titled “A Vision for Agriculture and Food”[4], the Commission is currently working on revising the legislation on animal welfare. The Commission is focusing on the areas most in need of modernization, which, at this stage, do not include Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009.
Question in English:
Revision of Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 and phase-out of CO₂ stunning of pigs
Each year, over 150 million pigs in the EU are stunned with CO₂ before slaughter. The method causes pain, fear, aversion and severe respiratory distress before loss of consciousness. In opinions from 2004 and 2020, the European Food Safety Authority identified CO₂ stunning as a serious animal welfare concern, concluding that the suffering is inherent and cannot be mitigated by technical improvements. The Commission has acknowledged, including in replies to Written Questions E-003066/2025[1] and E-000625/2026[2], that the PigStun project had identified feasible, already authorised alternatives in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009[3].
No timeline has been provided for revising or phasing out CO₂ stunning. The expectation that the sector will voluntarily transition is not supported by evidence, including PigStun’s finding that slaughterhouses are unlikely to abandon established systems because of cost, reliability and competitiveness concerns. Given the suffering, the available alternatives and the Commission’s commitments under the farm to fork strategy to revise animal welfare legislation, the continued delay raises serious questions regarding compatibility with Article 13 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. The revision should include binding, time-bound rules to phase out CO₂ stunning of pigs.
Given the above:
1. When will the Commission present the revision of Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009?
2. If no revision is planned, what are the reasons for this?
[1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2025-003066_EN.html.
[2] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2026-000625_EN.html.
[3] Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 of 24 September 2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing (OJ L 303, 18.11.2009, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1099/oj).
Answer in English:
As mentioned in the reply to the written parliamentary Question E-000625/2026[1], alternatives evaluated within the PigStun project[2], as well as methods including lower CO2 concentrations, are already included in the positive list in Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009[3] and are authorised for use in the EU without requiring regulatory changes.
As announced in the 2025 Communication on A Vision for Agriculture and Food[4], the Commission is working on the revision of the animal welfare legislation. The Commission is focusing on the areas that are most in need of modernisation, which at this stage, do not include Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009.
[1] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/E-10-2026-000625-ASW_EN.html.
[2] https://eurcaw-pigs.eu/dossier/pigstun.
[3] ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2009/1099/oj.
[4] COM/2025/75 final.
