This Legislative Decree lays down the penalties to be applied at the national level in case of infringement of the provisions sets forth under Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing. The Legislative Decree describes the procedure to be followed for the application of those penalties and designates the competent authority ( the Ministry of Health, Local Health Authorities, the Regions and the Autonomous Provinces of Trento and Bolzano).