The Meat Hygiene Service (MHS) is responsible for the enforcement of the welfare legislation governing the slaughter of a wide range of food animal species. The principal legislation is contained in the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995 (WASK) which give effect to the Provisions of Council Directive 93/119/EC on the Protection of Animals at Time of Slaughter or Killing, as contained in the EU Official Journal No. 340, 31/12/93. Codes of practice, prepared and issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food after consultation with all interested parties, provide guidance in respect of these welfare regulations. The legislation governing animal transit are contained in the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 (WATO) which is enforced by local authorities, although MHS officers at abattoirs monitor the unloading of livestock and carry out ante-mortem inspections. Animal welfare standards, which must never be compromised, should be continually improved and based on sound science rather than on uninformed opinion and anthropomorphism. There is a need for more high quality research on animal welfare, for clear concise user-friendly codes of practice for the industry, and for continued education of all parties involved, including consumers.