Slaughter licencing: the application process

Food

Please note that this guidance is intended to be used for general information purposes only, is not intended to be a definitive guide to the law and cannot be a substitute for independent advice. NFU members can obtain free initial legal and professional advice from NFU CallFirst on 0370 845 8458.

If you are slaughtering your own animals for consumption by people other than those in your household, you will need an appropriate qualification such as a WATOK licence or Certificate of Competence (CoC).

The first part of this guide focuses on the WATOK licence and CoC, and the second part discusses the licence requirement for slaughtering poultry under the small-scale producer exemption.