The competence certificate for staff involved in carrying out killing operations and related operations, as well as for those responsible for animal welfare in slaughterhouses, hereinafter referred to as the professional competence certificate, is issued to those who complete vocational training courses in the field of animal protection during killing operations organized by authorized institutions, according to the law. The professional competence certificate is mandatory for:

-staff involved in carrying out killing operations and related operations, namely staff involved in the following operations: unloading, handling animals, immobilisation, stunning, bleeding, and slaughter;

-staff involved in carrying out killing operations for disease control or in emergency killings;

-staff involved in killing animals for fur; those responsible for animal welfare in slaughterhouses. Exempted from this provision are slaughterhouses that slaughter fewer than 1,000 live animal units for mammals or 150,000 units per year for poultry or farmed rabbits. The competence certificate is valid for a period of 4 years and is drafted in accordance with the model provided in Annex No.1 to Order No. 73/2013 regarding the approval of the procedure for organizing and conducting training courses for staff involved in carrying out killing operations and related operations, as well as those intended for those responsible for animal welfare in slaughterhouses. Competence certificates are recognized throughout the territory of all member states. Romania recognizes professional competence certificates issued in another member state, the subjects of the courses completed being based on the provisions of Council Regulation (EC)1099/2009. The professional competence certificate cannot be issued more than twice within a period of 3 years. After the validity period of the professional competence certificate expires, a new certificate will be issued only to those who complete a new vocational training course, organized under the conditions of the law.

The professional competence certificate is issued by the county sanitary-veterinary and food safety directorates, and by the directorate of the Municipality of Bucharest, based on the promotion certificate issued as a result of passing the professional training course, for staff involved in carrying out killing operations and related operations, as well as those responsible for animal welfare in slaughterhouses, in slaughterhouses or units within the county/Bucharest municipality where killing operations are carried out.