Halal row as 3million sheep are slaughtered while still conscious
THE number of sheep slaughtered in Britain without being stunned first has doubled in the past six years to more than three million, official figures show.
Ministers attributed the rise to the Muslim community eating more sheep meat and ‘an enhanced religious observance’. Under Jewish kosher rules and Islamic halal rituals, the animals have their throats slit and the blood drained.
The Government was questioned over what it was doing to minimise the number of animals slaughtered while still conscious by Lord Trees, a former president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
During a Lords debate the independent crossbencher highlighted the latest figures from the Food Standards Agency, saying: ‘That is 3.3 million sheep that have their throats cut without being rendered unconscious first.
‘Does the minister agree with me that in that aspect of animal welfare we are going backwards?’
In reply, environment minister Lord Gardiner said: ‘The Government would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter but we have been very clear over a long period of time... that we do respect the rights of the Jewish and Muslim communities to consume meat in accordance with their religious practices.’
He pointed at plans to introduce CCTV in all abattoirs as part of a drive to improve animal welfare.
Labour former environment minister Lord Rooker said that all New Zealand sheep and lamb that arrived in this country was halal, but had been stunned prior to slaughter.
He said: ‘So if it’s good enough to have a standard in New Zealand that classifies as halal, why do we put up with a local decision that is not an international rule? Why can’t we adopt the New Zealand practice in respect of the Muslim community?’
Lord Gardiner said there were different requirements within the Muslim community. On the introduction of security cameras in abattoirs, the minister said: ‘What we want is for all animals to have a good life and a respectful end to their life and I think this will advance that.’
Tory peer Lord Hodgson pressed the minister about labelling to ensure people did not end up eating meat they believed to have been killed by a method that caused unnecessary suffering.
Lord Gardiner pointed out farm assurance schemes such as the Red Tractor and the RSPCA ethical food label required the stunning of animals before slaughter.