This measure pertains to eels killed in the Netherlands for the production of animal products.

Order of the State Secretary for Economic Affairs of [date], No WJZ/17127055, amending the Animal Keepers Order with regard to eel stunning.

The regulations serve to promote animal welfare when eels are killed. The order stipulates that eels shall be stunned before they are killed. The traditional and currently customary method of killing eels – with salt or a mixture of ice water and salt – results in prolonged agony for the eels, causing the animals a great deal of pain and stress.

This order provides for the regulation of stunning eels prior to killing them. The proposed order prohibits the killing of unstunned eels. Eels must be stunned with electricity before they can be killed. The order does not prescribe any specific stunning device, but does set out requirements on devices for the electrical stunning of eels. The order permits two methods of electrical stunning: after drainage and in the water.

This order shall apply to the killing of eels in the Netherlands for the production of animal products unless such killing is performed by the owner for private domestic consumption.

Articles 5.10 and 5.11 contain potential technical regulations, in conjunction with Article 5.9. These Articles set out requirements on the method used to stun eels with electricity. These requirements pertain to strength of the peak current and trickle current, the current density and the amount of time the eels are exposed to the electrical current.

No mutual recognition clause has been included because the regulations only apply to eels slaughtered in the Netherlands.