The FVO has published an overview report regarding animal welfare at the time of slaughter. Based on audits to EU Member States, the report explores how effective official controls are to ensure that animals are spared any pain, distress, or suffering during their killing and related operations. The report concludes that gaps found in operator's procedures occurred mostly where official controls had relied solely on direct inspections by the official veterinarian but had not included an audit of the operator’s own procedures and checks of animal welfare. The most significant compromise for animal welfare arose from inappropriate parameters for waterbath stunning of poultry, but where competent authorities had prioritised this issue they were able to achieve operator's compliance.