Restriction on Pithing (Wales) Regulations 2001(S.I. No. 1303 (W. 80) of 2001).

These Regulations, which apply to Wales only, give effect to Article 5 of Commission Decision 2000/418/EC They prohibit the use of the technique known as "pithing" in the slaughter of bovine, ovine or caprine animals for sale (given an extended meaning by regulation 2(2)(b)) for human or animal consumption (reg. 2(1)). To "pith" an animal is to lacerate, after stunning, its central nervous tissue by means of an elongated rod-shaped instrument introduced into the cranial cavity. All parts of the carcase (other than the hide) of an illegally pithed animal are to be "specified risk material" for the purposes of the Specified Risk Material Order 1997 and the Specified Risk Material Regulations 1997, in each case as amended (reg. 3). These Regulations furthermore make a consequential amendments to the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 insofar as they extend to Wales (reg. 4), give a power of entry to persons appointed as inspectors by the relevant enforcement authority (reg. 5), and create offences and penalties (regs. 2(3), 6 and 7).