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OUR CAMPAIGN FOR CLEAR LABELLING
OF RELIGIOUS SLAUGHTER PRODUCTS FOR CONSUMERS
Last updated August 2009
WHAT IS RELIGIOUS SLAUGHTER?
In the UK it is illegal to slaughter an animal without first stunning it. But there is an exception to this law for Jewish and Muslim religions, who are allowed to slaughter animals without first stunning them, as some members of these faiths say it is against their religion. There are other rituals that contribute to religious slaughter but this is the aspect that we are opposed to.
Jewish products, including meat, are called Kosher, also referred to as shechita.
Muslim products, including meat, are called Halal.
The Meat Hygiene Service say 114 million animals are killed under Halal and 2.1 million under Kosher methods each year in Britain.
WHY IS RELIGIOUS SLAUGHTER WORSE THAN OTHER SLAUGHTER?
While we fully know that all slaughter is extremely traumatic for animals, we believe that religious slaughter is even more so. The animal's throat is cut and it is bled to death; it is fully conscious throughout this process. It can take up to 16 minutes for the animal to die.
A study* showed that on a scale of 100 the agony of death by:
Throat Cutting (equal to Halal or Kosher methods) = 86. The 2nd worst death except for being burnt to death by fire
Gun Shot to Head (equal to the UK's legally required method of stunning) = 13.
The amount of meat products sourced using religious slaughter being sold in Scotland has risen dramatically in the past few years, now even being sold in major supermarkets.
  
Video here shows a slaughterhouse in USA where the practice is similar to UK: http://tinyurl.com/m4r63n
In certain religious slaughterhouses, tapes are played of religious chants in line with their religious practice. Some are played at very high speed because slaughtermen want to get the animals killed quicker to increase productivity. It's been described as a very upsetting noise for the animals.
(*Study Rhyne, et al. 1995. Dimensions of suicide: perceptions of lethality, time and agony.)
WHAT IS STUNNING?
Stunning = the practice of making an animal unconscious before killing it to minimise the suffering.
Some say that animals are stunned prior to religious slaughter. But the definition of stunning by many religious groups is not what is legally required in regular slaughterhouses. Often the voltage of the stunning is so low that it just paralyses the animal's body but they are still fully conscious; or they regain consciousness during the bleeding. There is anecdotal evidence that even this form of stunning is not practised despite claims that it is.
EU LAW
In May 2009 the EU passed a law saying that meat from religious slaughter must be made available. This sadly bypasses the existing laws of countries such as Switzerland, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia who had already outlawed Halal and Kosher meats because of its cruelty. But we still have a chance to stop this - see below "what you can do".
LABELLING
Not all shops advertise their Kosher or Halal meats. While others simply have signs that are incomprehensible to people who don't speak Arabic or Hebrew.
Despite legislation saying consumers must be given enough information to make an informed purchase, authorities do not insist upon religious slaughter products being clearly labelled.
The symbols below are sometimes used to denote religious slaughter products.
Jewish/Kosher/shechita meat sign
Muslim/Halal meat sign
If you see these symbols without the words "kosher" or "halal" this is illegal due to 'Scotland for Animals' campaign to Trading Standards for enforcement. We are now pushing for yet more clear labelling of all religious slaughter products by law.
Many shops unwittingly sell such products as the meats are mixed up at the slaughterhouse. For example two thirds of Kosher meat ends up in non-Kosher shops This would not be the case if labelling was clearer.
Government Minister Lord Rooker has called for meat slaughtered without stunning to be labelled for the public's benefit.
The SSPCA also support this: "Until slaughter without pre-stunning is banned outright, the Scottish SPCA wishes to see all meat from animals killed in this way clearly labelled so that consumers opposed to the practice do not inadvertently purchase the product."
OTHER SUPPORTERS OF A BAN ON RELIGIOUS SLAUGHTER
SSPCA, Scottish Society for the Protection of Animals:
"The Scottish SPCA is opposed to the slaughter of any animal without rendering that animal insensible to pain and distress until death supervenes."
"While respecting all religious beliefs, the Scottish SPCA opposes these exemptions on welfare grounds."
The Al-Azhar University in Egypt appointed a Committee of Imams from the 4 acknowledged Schools of Thought in Islam. They unanimously agreed that stunning is acceptable.
Imams at Glasgow Central Mosque admit that although they are opposed to stunning it is perfectly permissable to stun animals under Islam.
Rabbi Eugen Kullman, Vice President, Friends of Animals Society:
"We are united against the slaughter of conscious animals, consider it a horror in itself, and an abomination when coupled with the vicious devices used to restrain conscious livestock. We have nothing to gain, neither on earth nor in heaven, by slaughtering God's creatures while they are conscious."
Struan Stevenson, Scottish MEP, supports a ban on religious slaughter. He attempted to overturn the exemption of religious slaughter products from stunning. Mr Stevenson was the MEP responsible for banning sales of dog and cat fur in Europe.
Farm Animal Welfare Council, the government advisory body consisting of scientists and animal experts recently stated "FAWC is in agreement with the prevailing scientific consensus that slaughter without pre-stunning causes pain and distress".
British Veterinary Association
"The practice of slaughtering animals without prior stunning is unacceptable under any circumstances."
Haluk Anil, who is coordinating a European Union project to examine legislation and welfare issues related to religious slaughter, both shechita and halal.
"Stunning does not impede blood loss, therefore this objection cannot be used any more."
The following countries already have a ban on these products:
Switzerland, Latvia and Estonia.
The following countries insist that stunning be done before slaughter:
Norway, Sweden and New Zealand.
Many parent groups have protested when Halal meat was introduced into school meals.
UK Government have admitted that slaughtering animals without stunning causes greatly increased levels of pain and distress. Yet they support keeping religious slaughter legal.
RSPCA, Royal Society for the Protection of Animals
"The RSPCA is opposed to the slaughter of any food animal without rendering that animal insensible to pain and distress until death supervenes."
"The 1995 Regulations exempt the Jewish method of slaughter, shechita, and the Muslim method of slaughter halal. While respecting individual religious practices, the Society opposes these exemptions on welfare grounds."
WHAT 'SCOTLAND FOR ANIMALS' WANTS
Ideally we would like to see these products banned in Scotland. But for now:
1 We ask the public to stop buying Halal and Kosher meat and animal products.
2 We ask that Halal and Kosher meats be clearly labelled so consumers know what they are buying.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1 Do not buy Halal or Kosher meats or animal products. They are usually found in many takeaways and sandwich bars such as Subway and Baguette Express; curry houses; kebab shops; Tesco and Asda now stock a wide selection.
2 Please write to COSLA (see sample email/ letter below) asking that they uphold your right to know where your meat comes from. Please copy and email the letter below. This should take you only 2 minutes. We believe we have a very strong chance to stop this but we need your help.
3 Write to your MP - we still have an opportunity to stop the EU law mentioned above becoming law in this country. Please copy and email the letter below. This takes only 3 minutes.
Food Standards Agency Scotland
6th Floor, St. Magnus House
25 Guild St.
Aberdeen
AB11 6NJ
Email: christine.green@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Dear Ms Green
Labelling/Advertisement of Religious Slaughter Products in Scotland
As I wish not to purchase these products due to the animal cruelty involved I am extremely concerned that there is no stipulation to label these products clearly. I feel that as a result of this I am being denied my rights as a consumer to be given information to make a purchasing decision.
I also think it is unreasonable to expect consumers to have to enquire whether a product has been subject to basic animal welfare laws (which these products are not) during the course of every food transaction because religious communities have secured immunity from national legislation.
From the charity Scotland for Animals (www.scotlandforanimals.org) I have learned that because of the extraordinary nature of the production of these goods the provision for compulsory labelling is given in 'The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008' under Part 2, Section 6 'Misleading omissions'.
I have also discovered that the Food Standards Agency have claimed that they are not aware of any strong drive to have these products clearly labelled. This is untrue as most if not all public polls done in recent years have pointed to a sharp and increasing demand by consumers for higher welfare products where animals are the source with the public stating that the welfare of animals is a major and often the primary factor in deciding on a purchase.
As Halal/ kosher meat is produced using slaughter techniques which have been proven to cause pain and distress to animals (contact Scotland for Animals for details) then it is obvious that consumers would wish the right to be informed if these had been employed. Contrary to FSA claims this could be done without the need for new legislation as provision exists in the legislation mentioned above.
I ask that you please ensure that this legislation is enforced as soon as possible.
Yours faithfully
(INSERT YOUR NAME AND POSTAL ADDRESS HERE)
LETTER TO YOUR MP
- You can find the contact details of your MP here www.writetothem.com
- Remember - it is your MP you write to, not your MSP.
Dear Sir/Madam
The welfare of animals at slaughter bill
I am writing regarding the above bill which is still to be ratified by the UK Parliament. I would like to object to the exemption contained for religious slaughter. This practice is condemned by the SSPCA, Farm Animal Welfare Council, British Veterinary Association, and Scotland for Animals due to it causing unnecessary suffering to the animals.
I ask that you please oppose this exemption when the bill comes to Parliament.
Could you also please tell me your position on whether religious slaughter should be legal in the UK.
Yours faithfully
(INSERT YOUR NAME AND POSTAL ADDRESS HERE)
   
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