--- title: "The development of an alternative method to CO2 for the commercial stunning of pigs" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-04d7ec89-fe75-427a-b31c-4f2d5ce01a21" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-04d7ec89-fe75-427a-b31c-4f2d5ce01a21" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-04d7ec89-fe75-427a-b31c-4f2d5ce01a21.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-04d7ec89-fe75-427a-b31c-4f2d5ce01a21.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Tender" buyer: "DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL" published: "2017-07-14" --- # The development of an alternative method to CO2 for the commercial stunning of pigs Buyer: DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL Current stage: Tender OCID: ocds-b5fd17-04d7ec89-fe75-427a-b31c-4f2d5ce01a21 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-04d7ec89-fe75-427a-b31c-4f2d5ce01a21) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-04d7ec89-fe75-427a-b31c-4f2d5ce01a21.json) ## Summary The procurement process is led by the Defra Network eTendering Portal, aiming to develop an alternative method to carbon dioxide (CO2) for the commercial stunning of pigs. This tender falls within the agricultural services industry and is located in England. The current stage of this procurement is the Tender phase, which began on 14 July 2017 and will close on 21 August 2017. The contract is expected to start on 2 October 2017 and conclude by 1 October 2019. This tender uses an open procurement method, allowing for wider participation from interested suppliers. This opportunity presents significant potential for business growth, particularly for innovative companies specialising in animal welfare solutions and alternative stunning technologies. Suppliers, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and voluntary, community, and social enterprises (VCSEs), are well positioned to compete for this contract. As the demand for humane animal treatment continues to rise in the farming sector, businesses that can offer effective and practical alternatives to traditional practices stand to benefit greatly from engaging with this procurement process. ## Notice The Authority is looking for a supplier for the development of an alternative method to high concentration CO2 for the commercial stunning of pigs. The stunning of pigs by direct exposure to high concentrations of Carbon dioxide (30% and above) is commonly used for commercial slaughter of pigs. Research has shown that pigs find direct exposure to high concentrations of CO2 aversive. This has been acknowledged by both the Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). FAWC in its 2003 Report on Animal Welfare recommended that this method should be phased out, whilst EFSA's 2004 report confirmed the efficacy of the method but noted that it resulted in respiratory distress in pigs. Similar concerns were expressed for poultry and alternative controlled atmosphere systems are now in use within the poultry industry. The use of CO2 in high concentration for the commercial stunning of pigs is permitted under EU and national Regulations, and this method continues to be used in the UK as well as other EU Member States Following the FAWC and EFSA recommendations, in 2005 Defra commissioned research to look at alternative gases for killing pigs. The results of this research indicated that the use of direct exposure to high concentrations of inert gases is a more humane method as it does not cause aversion. However, despite efforts to encourage uptake by the industry there has been little progress made in using inert gas in commercial slaughterhouses, due to practical issues related to the time that it takes for pigs to become unconscious/death and the practicality of replacing CO2 systems with the new equipment. Defra and the Humane Slaughter Association would like to commission further research that identifies or develops, and validates an alternative and commercially viable method to the stunning of pigs via direct exposure to high concentrations of CO2 in a high-throughput setting Additional information: Please note that Defra procurement uses e-tendering, provided by Bravosolutions. In order to access the Bravo system you will need to be registered. Could I therefore request that you register on the Bravo portal for Defra. If you're already registered on the Bravo portal please check that your registration includes Defra, as you have to specify us in order to correctly receive the tender documents. If you have any problems with the registration process, please contact the Bravo helpline on 0800 368 4850 or alternatively email them at help@bravosolution.co.uk. The link you require for new registration/amendments to registrations is - https://defra.bravosolution.co.uk ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6a546ce2-bb20-49d4-a38a-7b32db79bcf9 | | Notice type | Tender Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Services | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Tender | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 14 Jul 2017 | | Submission deadline | 21 Aug 2017 | | Future notice date | Not specified | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | 1 Oct 2017 - 1 Oct 2019 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Active | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | DEFRA NETWORK ETENDERING PORTAL | | Locality | LONDON | | Post town | South West London | | Postcode | SW1P 3JR | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLI London | | ITL 2 | TLI3 Inner London - West | | ITL 3 | TLI35 Westminster and City of London | | Local authority | Westminster | | Electoral ward | St James's | | Westminster constituency | Cities of London and Westminster | | Delivery location | Not specified | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 03 - Agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products ### Codes - 03000000 - Agricultural, farming, fishing, forestry and related products - 03140000 - Animal products and related products - 03323000 - Pigs ## Release History - 14 Jul 2017 at 13:09 - Tender - Tender Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6a546ce2-bb20-49d4-a38a-7b32db79bcf9 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/6a546ce2-bb20-49d4-a38a-7b32db79bcf9 14th July 2017 - Opportunity notice on Contracts Finder - https://defra.bravosolution.co.uk Bravo Link ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-04d7ec89-fe75-427a-b31c-4f2d5ce01a21. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-04d7ec89-fe75-427a-b31c-4f2d5ce01a21.json.