Can an individual kill an animal for consumption himself?

Verified 13 October 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

The slaughter of animals intended for human consumption must be carried out in a approved slaughterhouse, where each carcass is subject to a health inspection.

However, the individual raising a sheep, goat, pig, poultry or rabbits may slaughter an animal itself if the following conditions are met:

  • Depending on the animal species concerned, the individual must have complied with the reporting and identification obligations to which the species may be subject
  • The individual may slaughter an animal himself only if he raised and maintained it on the spot. He can't buy an animal just to kill it
  • Slaughter must be carried out in accordance with same rules as in a slaughterhouse with regard to stunning and killing operations
  • The slaughtered animal must be exclusively for the personal consumption of the individual. Meat and offal of slaughtered animals may not be sold or given to a third party.

The slaughter of a cow, calf or horse outside an approved slaughterhouse shall be prohibited.

Obligations for declaration and identification of animals

Depending on the animal species kept, the individual may be subject to an obligation to declare and identify his animals:

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Sheep, goats or pigs

An individual who raises one or more sheep, goats or pigs shall have your animals identified by 2 earrings and declare his breeding at the departmental establishment of breeding (EdE) attached to the chamber of agriculture of his department.

This reporting obligation shall apply from 1er detained animal.

Who shall I contact

The individual must inform the departmental establishment of the breeding, within 7 days, in the case of the acquisition or disposal of an animal. He must also inform the departmental establishment of the breeding in case of death of an animal at the latest during the removal of the body.

In addition, the individual must also designate a veterinary health, from 1er kept animal using cerfa form no 15983:

Designation of the veterinary health officer by the animal keeper

The list of veterinarians with health authorization in a department is available on the website of the prefecture or on request from the Departmental Directorate for Population Protection (DDPP).

The form completed and signed by the veterinarian is to be sent to the Departmental Directorate of Population Protection (DDPP) of the prefecture.

Poultry

The individual who raises one or more poultry can be registered with his town hall.

Who shall I contact

Any suspicion or appearance of clinical signs suggestive of avian influenza must be the subject of a declaration.

The declaration is made online:

Online declaration of bird detention in an outbreak of avian disease

It can also be done by mail using form cerfa n°15472:

Declaration of keeping of birds in an outbreak of avian disease

Conditions for slaughter

The slaughter must be carried out in such a way as to avoid any avoidable pain, distress or suffering to animals.

Slaughter outside an approved slaughterhouse must comply with same rules as in an approved slaughterhouse as regards stunning and killing operations.

The animal must be dizzy before being put to death in accordance with methods authorized by the regulations.

The purpose of dizziness is to cause pain-free loss of consciousness and sensitivity.

The animal should be bled immediately after stunning, in any case before it regains consciousness.

Serious abuse or cruelty to an animal or willfully harming the life of a domestic, tamed or captive animal is penalized.

Reminder

The individual may also have the animal slaughtered in an approved slaughterhouse and then retrieve the carcass.

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