Approximately 5 million pigs are slaughtered each year in Australia for pork, bacon, and ham products. Pork is the 2nd most consumed meat in Australia and it seems that the demand for these products just keeps increasing. But why are we still gassing pigs in 2026? Surely, there must be more humane ways to do so. Obviously, as vegans, we would prefer not to kill them at all.
Despite ongoing evidence that pigs continue to suffer in Australian slaughterhouses and farms, gassing still remains legal. It seems that the industry itself relies on CO² stunning mostly for the economic advantages, as it remains the most efficient way to render the pigs unconscious. In other words, more pigs are able to be processed at high volumes. Because gas stunning can be undertaken in groups, the method has a high production rate and there is generally less human labour involved.
In Australia, there are 3 recognised methods of stunning pigs before slaughter: by captive bolt gun, electrical current, and controlled atmosphere killing using carbon dioxide gas. For those not familiar with the CO² stunning method, I will briefly detail the process: pigs are loaded (unwillingly I should add) into a gondola crate. The gondola is then lowered into a pit with the CO² gas. The pigs are rendered unconscious through oxygen deprivation, usually within 30 – 60 seconds. The unconscious pigs are then brought back up, then shackled on a processing line, where they are bled out.
Over 85% of pigs in Australia are stunned using the CO² method. The industry would consumers to think that pigs being stunned gently fall asleep and feel no pain. But that is far from the truth. And that is what investigators from Farm Transparency Project found after revealing damning footage taken inside an Australian slaughterhouse. The secret footage revealed the final last moments of the pigs, thrashing and gasping for air inside a gas chamber. It was nothing short of horrific. The footage was so damning that it aired on ABC’s 7.30 in March 2023. It was the first footage in the world to show this kind of evidence of the pigs’ last moments. Such footage has led to public condemnation of the industry and the lack of adequate laws and regulations to ensure the welfare of pigs.
I think there are too many loopholes leading to inadequate standards and noncompliance within an overarching framework comprising of a myriad of laws, guidelines and welfare standards, all varying from state to state. This essentially leaves much of the industry to self-regulate. Nationwide, there is no established right way of determining what is best practice. It was recommended that there be a national framework put in place to govern pig welfare. “Australia lacks an up to date nationally consistent approach to pig welfare” – page 69 of the report. In regards to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, each state has its own version. What is the same is that the Acts contain a clause that exempts farm animals from being protected due to industry Codes of Practice. That’s right. The legislation is geared to incentivise an industry which profits off the exploitation, abuse, and slaughter of innocent animals.
What laws are in place to regulate the industry and to protect the welfare of pigs?
- The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act – varies from state to state
- The Meat Industry Act – also varies state to state
- Other commonwealth legislation such as the Export Control Act 2020
- The Livestock Management Act 2010(VIC)
- Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines (land transport)
- Australian Model Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Animals
- Victorian Standards and Guidelines for the Welfare of Pigs (Pig Welfare Standard)
- The Australian Standard for the Hygienic Production and Transportation of Meat Products for Human Consumption (Australian Meat Standard)
Who enforces these laws and corresponding welfare standards?
- State agriculture departments
- PrimeSafe
- Some independent auditing through APIQ (Australian Pork Industry Quality Assurance Program) and Australian Livestock Processing Industry Animal Welfare Certificate (AAWCS)
In 2023, Animals Australia filed proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria to challenge the legality of suffocating pigs for pork inside gas chambers. There were several hearings held in 2023, and a subsequent hearing in 2024 to determine if Animals Australia actually had the authority to sue in the first place. The case did not proceed to trial but Animals Australia have since appealed that decision.
With significant traction, a Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Pig Welfare took place in 2023, with a focus on many significant welfare issues, including CO² stunning. The committee’s job was to report on 18 recommendations put in place by a number of animal welfare groups, designated experts, and industry bodies. The total input into the inquiry was estimated at nearly 10,000. There was also significant engagement from the public, with over 3,000 personal submissions made. Participants in the inquiry were to address key findings made. This was done by either submission or via a public hearing. The committee’s job was to finalise a report by May 2024, highlighting key areas for industry improvement. The report was then presented to Parliament. A response from the government was then sought. The timeline: 6 months.
Some of the Recommendations from the Inquiry:
Phase out of CO² stunning systems
There are two recognised loading methods for CO² stunning. The side-loading method is considered an out-of-date method, as the pigs have to be loaded single file into the gondola and that is considered more stressful for them. It was recommended that the side-loading system be fully phased out and be fully replaced with the back-loading system (pigs are moved in groups into the gondola, using an automatic wall that pushes them). A small win for animal welfare but still not enough. CO² gassing will still continue.
Introduction of mandatory CCTV in Piggeries and Processing Facilities
Under the current regulatory framework, there are currently no requirements for animal welfare monitoring when it comes to reporting pigs’ response to CO² stunning. So basically abattoirs and piggeries don’t need to have mandatory CCTV all. This is a large loophole when it comes to the monitoring of pigs and assessing their welfare. It was recommended that a CCTV mandate be “enshrined in legislation” – p58. Some animal welfare advocates argued that an independent party unaffiliated with the industry should be in charge of monitoring CCTV to ensure adequate monitoring of pigs’ welfare. The designated body would ideally have the power to report breaches in welfare assessment and non-compliance. Other animal welfare advocates argued that further transparency in the industry was needed by making the CCTV footage accessible to the public. This would ensure consumers get to see exactly what happens behind closed doors. Ultimately, this would give consumers more power to make informed choices about the meat products they buy at the supermarket.
Government work with the industry to innovate research and development opportunities to commercially viable alternatives to the use of CO² stunning
The industry would love to tell you that CO² stunning is perfectly humane, and has many welfare benefits. But we all know that it is all about the commercial advantages. CO² stunning is simply a more efficient method resulting in higher production rates. It is well known that CO² gas is highly ‘aversive’ to pigs. Welfare advocates reported some of the aversive responses as follows: respiratory distress, breathlessness, anxiety, mucosal irritation and pain (pg 84 of the report).
For CO² gassing to be considered humane, there must be no aversive response and there must be an instantaneous loss of consciousness (Compassion in World Farming). We know that isn’t the case. The European Food Safety Authority recommends that CO² gassing at high concentrations be replaced with other gas mixtures that are less aversive.
What are the alternatives to CO² gas?
Some of the other alternatives to CO² are inert gases such as argon, helium and nitrogen. These gases have shown more promising results (though far from perfect) as they are said to induce unconsciousness through hypoxia without activating the same pain response as seen in CO². The pigs would not develop the same air hunger or, unlike CO², “they do not form carbonic acid on mucosal surfaces” (CIWF). It is said that rather, the pigs would experience mild discomfort and some irritation.
Argon and helium are said to be more promising alternatives in terms of higher welfare outcomes. It is said that argon can be re-produced more easily than helium, and seems to be the most promising of the two. However, according to the NSW Department of Primary Industries, argon is much more inaccessible. Inaccessibility generally means it will be more expensive. And that is a big problem for the industry. There are also limitations to the commercial application of argon. The industry desperately needs to allocate more research time to develop better stunning alternatives. The government also needs to do its part and allocate funding to do so. However, it seems to be that more funding is going towards propping up these meat industries.
Final Thoughts
It is frustrating to know that CO² stunning still continues in this day and age. Meanwhile, industries continue to profit off the suffering of pigs. What is more frustrating is that these industries have existed for decades, and have shown no genuine improvements or overall commitment to higher animal welfare. It was only because of the growing concern from animal welfare advocates and the general public that pushed for an inquiry in the first place. And of course, the hard work from organisations like Farm Transparency Project, that were able to get footage in the first place. And in 2026 when pork products are flying off the supermarket shelves, we need more brave activists now than ever.
