Every year, millions of British pigs are facing terrible treatment at slaughter. Will you take a moment to email George Eustice, the Secretary of State responsible for this issue, and ask him to protect pig welfare?

Around three quarters of pigs sent for slaughter in the UK are killed using CO 2 . Despite numerous reports, dating back over three decades, highlighting that CO 2 is an inhumane method for stunning and slaughtering pigs, the pig industry has dragged its heels over implementing more humane slaughter methods. Defra set a target of 2020 to review more humane alternatives – so the time has come for them to deliver.

This method involves lowering pigs into a CO 2 chamber, where they panic, fight for breath and eventually suffocate. It can take as long as 60 seconds for them to lose consciousness.

Will you urge Defra to end the use of CO 2 as an “acceptable” method for pig slaughter?

CO 2 is unsuitable as a method of slaughter for pigs, and alternative solutions must be found as soon as possible in order that its use stops.