1. Business operators shall ensure that the layout and construction of slaughterhouses and the equipment used therein comply with the rules set out in Annex II.
2. For the purposes of this Regulation, business operators shall, when requested, submit to the competent authority referred to in Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 for each slaughterhouse at least the following:
(a)
the maximum number of animals per hour for each slaughter line;
(b)
the categories of animals and weights for which the restraining or stunning equipment available may be used;
(c)
the maximum capacity for each lairage area.
The competent authority shall assess the information submitted by the operator in accordance with the first subparagraph when approving the slaughterhouse.
3. The following may be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 25(2):
(a)
derogations from the rules set out in Annex II for mobile slaughterhouses;
(b)
amendments necessary to adapt Annex II to take account of scientific and technical progress.
Pending the adoption of derogations referred to in point (a) of the first subparagraph, the Member States may establish or maintain national rules applying to mobile slaughterhouses.
4. Community guidelines for the implementation of paragraph 2 of this Article and Annex II may be adopted in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 25(2).