Earlier this year, animal welfare minister Lord Goldsmith toldThe Independentthe government was taking several steps to cut down on numbers of animals killed without stunning. The government's own advisory body, the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC), has recommended these exemptions be removed due to the "very significant pain and distress" animals suffer when slaughtered without pre-stunning. Last week, the publication of a recent survey suggested that it may be time to review this decision. Pre-stunning is considered by most veterinary and animal welfare organisations to be the most humane method of slaughter. In 2018 the NSS found non-stun halal and kosher meat was widespread in UK supermarkets, without clear labelling to indicate the slaughter method. Information about how we use your personal data is set out in our, Alternatives to balloons and sky lanterns, improving the welfare of farm animals at the time of their death, 22 million meat chickens (2.3%of total slaughtered), 2.5 million sheep (23%of total slaughtered), 20 thousand cattle (1%of total slaughtered). I hope we can emulate Germany and limit non-stun slaughter to meet demand from UK religious communities and end the oversupply, he said. Robust and regular reporting on: the numbers of animals that aren't stunned; the numbers that don't receive an effective stun; and the amount of non-stun meat that is exported. We expect the food industry to provide consumers with all the information they need to make informed choices, but well be consulting on what can be done through labelling to promote even higher welfare standards in the UK., UK: Meat from animals not stunned before they are, UK: Significant number of Halal meat-eaters might be, UK: RSPCA calls for a ban on exporting non-stunned meat from. Accept Cookies, Home News NSS welcomes plans for non-stun slaughter labelling. The majority of slaughterhouses producing non-stunned halal meat in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland have failed inspections in the last three years by the Food Standards Agency. end their life if they are suffering, and that relatives The significant suffering caused by non-stun slaughter means it is imperative that the number of animals killed through this method is reduced to the minimum quantity needed to meet the consumption of faith communities in the UK.. Andrew Tate challenged on misogyny in combative BBC interview, How gun violence is reshaping American lives, Long lashes and fashion flair: Africa's top shots, Poland's quest to retrieve priceless Nazi-looted art, Across the Spider-Verse opens up franchise to female fans, Foo Fighters review: A band working through grief. The next step must be for the government to demonstrate its intentions to be a world leader in animal welfare across the board by implementing the recommendations, which are supported by vets, animal welfare experts, and industry.. However, all kosher meat is unstunned, and much unstunned halal and kosher meat enters the general market for consumption by people other than Muslims and Jews. It is estimated that 118 million chickens, three . The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Parliament rolled out its new halal and kosher menu last month, after Labour MPs Charlotte Nichols and Zarah Sultana coordinated a cross party letter to MPs urging them to write to the parliamentary authorities asking them to provide kosher and halal food. The next step must be for the government to demonstrate its intentions to be a world leader in animal welfare across the board by implementing the recommendations, which are supported by vets, animal welfare experts, and industry.. Currently, UK animal welfare law requires all animals to be stunned before slaughter in order to eliminate unnecessary pain and suffering. The consultation, launched by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, asks if products containing meat should be mandatorily labelled to indicate the method of slaughter. A review of the law on animal welfare at slaughter this year outlined potential improvements, which the government says it is considering. The British Veterinary Association says that non-stun before slaughter is worse for cattle, sheep and poultry. All kosher and some halal meat is not stunned. treated with dignity and respect, and to be allowed to This will now stop from September, despite the council admitting there is currently no demand for stunned halal meat from any school in the county. end their life if they are suffering, and that relatives Some parts of animals killed by Jewish ritual slaughter methods are not themselves regarded as kosher and are therefore sold on the general market unlabelled. 30 March 2021 The Government has confirmed that it intends to launch a consultation later this year into the introduction of labelling for meat products to indicate if the animal was stunned before slaughter. The NSS has criticised the government for enshrining religious exemptions from animal welfare laws in a bill meant to protect animals. Up to 99millionanimals a year are needlessly slaughtered without stunning, a study claims, as there is an oversupply for the UKs religious meat market. Row over jail term for woman who attacked neo-Nazis. We believe individuals should have a right to decide to Councillors in Lancashire voted on Thursday to end its use in council-run schools. Design/methodology/approach: Samples of non-stunned broiler breast meat (n=10) and stunned broiler breast meat (n=10) which have undergone the Halal slaughter method were analysed on the quality parameters of protein . Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Exclusive: We should certainly not be producing non-stun meat for export, says Tory MP, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, Shoppers dont usually know how animals were killed when they buy meat, a report warns. Ministers are considering backing a bid from Chris Loder, a Tory MP and animal welfare advocate, to cut the number of animals slaughtered without being stunned. An NSS spokesperson said: "Most animals slaughtered for halal meat are stunned first. We campaign on a wide range of topics where religious privilege impacts public life. The only exception under current UK legislation is where it can be demonstrated that the meat is destined for a religious community and slaughtered in accordance with religious rites. This is seen as a more humane method than an electrical water bath stunner, where there have been issues with baths leaving chickens immobilised rather than unconscious. Studies indicate that a substantial proportion of British Halal meat comes from animals which are stunned before slaughter. What is non-stun slaughter?Stunning an animal using a captive bolt gun, electrical water bath or other methods ensures animals are unconscious at the time of slaughter. Figures from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) indicate that in 2018 58 per centof all halal meat in England was pre-stunned. The NSS has criticised the government for enshrining religious exemptions from animal welfare laws in a bill meant to protect animals. Our recommendations build on current legislation and best practice, spanning the whole slaughter process, from preparation on-farm to processes at the abattoir, effective stunning, regulation of non-stun slaughter, labelling, and public procurement. Clear labelling of meat and meat-products from animals that have not been stunned before slaughter. 26 Church of England bishops sit as of right in the It follows publication of a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) report detailing results of its call for evidence consultation on animal welfare labelling. Registered charity no.219099. "I call on the relevant authorities to stop serving these meals immediately.". Join our campaign for an inclusive and secular education system. The Government is due to propose mandatory labelling of how meat is produced in early 2023. We work to change that. We support entirely ending of exceptions that allow for animals to be slaughtered without pre-slaughter. A near-unanimous 97% of individuals responding strongly supported the Government introducing a method of slaughter labelling, with almost all the rest partially supporting this. They may well feel aggrieved that their parliament has opted to supply meat from such unnecessarily cruel slaughter methods in its catering outlets.". No non-stunned halal or kosher products were found on their online site. All rights reserved. There is currently no non-stun slaughter in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Read more about our work on animal welfare. This has led to an unprecedented situation requiring the slaughter of a vast number of animals in a manner that maintains animal welfare whilst also being compliant with sharia and legal regulations. Figures from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) indicate that in 2018 over 94 million cattle, sheep, and poultry were slaughtered in England without being pre-stunned. Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the effect of pre-slaughter treatment, i.e. The BVA argues that for animal welfare purposes, cattle, poultry and sheep should be pre-stunned before slaughter, meaning they are unconscious and insensible to pain. speak, and believe, as they wish. They will never be passed on or sold to any other organisations for their own marketing purposes. 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The government's own advisory body, the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC), has said that non-stun animal slaughter should be banned completely. Currently, UK animal welfare law requires all animals to be stunned before slaughter in order to eliminate unnecessary pain and suffering. However, some sections of the Muslim community do not accept an animal as 'halal' if it has been stunned. We acknowledge that religious beliefs and practices should be respected. You can read the consultation and respond here. The report urges the UK government "to set more stringent requirements for the use of non-stun slaughter . Around 87% of animals slaughtered in the UK for Halal are stunned first. Most animals killed by the halal method in the UK are stunned beforehand. UK law requires animals to be stunned before they are slaughtered to avoid unnecessary suffering, distress or pain. By continuing to browse the site you agree to our, Religion and belief surveys and statistics. As a ban on non-stun slaughter comes into force in northern Belgium, Chris Sloggett says there should be no religious exemptions to the law. We want pupils from all different backgrounds educated A 2015 YouGov poll found almost 80 per cent of the UK wants an end to non-stun slaughter. But failing that, we believe that the Government must introduce a clear labelling system to make sure consumers are able to make informed decisions in accordance with their own conscience and beliefs.. There is significant support for mandatory labels for meat from animals slaughtered without stunning, a government report suggests. Government finds 97% support for labelling of non-stunned meat. Ministers may back a Tory MPs bid to cut the number of animals slaughtered without being stunned. Some parts of the Muslim community do accept pre-stunning. They said that by implementing clear labeling, the government could ensure supply of this meat could meet demand, as more animals could be being slaughtered in this manner than required. Based on the findings in the report, next year the UK Government says it intends to consult on proposals to improve and expand current mandatory labelling requirements for animal welfare. Law and administration of justice should be based on equality, human rights, and evidence. Stephen Evans, campaigns director at the National Secular Society, welcomed the council's ban, saying: "The time has come to abolish the religious exemption that allows animals to be slaughtered without pre-stunning.". Best Halal restaurants in London. Lancashire council has voted to stop supplying schools with halal meat from animals killed without being stunned, in a move described as "discriminatory and Islamophobic" by Muslim leaders. Animal care is important. Some Muslims agree that stunning can be used to incapacitate animals if it makes them easier to kill, but say it should not be used to slaughter them for meat. We use cookies to improve your online experience. Humanists believe that animals are sentient beings and support the reduction of animal suffering resulting from human behaviour. 26 Church of England bishops sit as of right in the RSPCA 2023. Postcode is optional but will help us send you information relevant to your local area. The UK has high animal welfare standards. Some parts of the Muslim community do accept pre-stunning. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. We work to ensure that such education is critical, objective, and pluralistic. Humanists UK, 39 Moreland Street, London EC1V 8BB Humanists UKs Director of Public Affairs and Policy Richy Thompson commented, We are pleased that the Government has confirmed that it will be consulting on this issue. In response to a targeted criticism of the NSS for campaigning to end non-stun slaughter, Chris Sloggett says the principle of one law for all is worth upholding. The BVA argues that for animal welfare purposes, cattle, poultry and sheep should be pre-stunned before slaughter, meaning they are unconscious and insensible to pain. We use cookies to improve your online experience. We provide ceremonies, pastoral care, education, and support services benefitting over a million people every year and our campaigns advance humanist thinking on ethical issues, human rights, and equal treatment for all. "However, labelling will not be enough to end the unnecessary suffering of the millions of animals killed by non-stun religious slaughter methods in the UK every year. Muslim and Jewish communities. "No Co-op own brand fresh and frozen British meat or poultry is Halal certified or slaughtered in a ritual method," its policy states. Join our campaign for an inclusive and secular education system. treated with dignity and respect, and to be allowed to There is no reason for the Government not to act and draft legislation that the public so overwhelmingly supports.. The introduction of a non-stun permit system to ensure that the number of animals slaughtered without prior stunning does not exceed the relevant demand of the UKs religious communities. Postcode is optional but will help us send you information relevant to your local area. And in 2018 90,000 of the 2.9 million non-stunned animals slaughtered for kosher meat were rejected as unfit for religious consumption and went into the general market unlabelled. Policy changes could lead to more meat from animals slaughtered without stunning supplied in the public sector, the NSS has warned. As humanists, we support the right of every person to be In 2018 NSS research found at least 17 councils across the UK were supplying non-stunned halal meat to their local schools. "The UK should follow the example of the growing number of countries that do not compromise their animal welfare laws through religious slaughter exemptions. Click here to see our Privacy Policy. Farm animal slaughter and our work to improve the practice. The only exemption is for religious communities to meet Jewish and Muslim religious dietary preferences. Lancashire Council passed a resolution to ban non-stunned halal meat from school meals (PA) Thousands of Lancashire schoolchildren will no longer be served un-stunned halal meat for. Registered Charity No. Get an email that automatically logs you in: If you have a role at Humanists UK, click 'Sign in with Google'. 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