Stun plans anger Muslim butchers
Bristol Evening Post, Apr 14 2004
MUSLIM butchers are calling for a tightening-up of the definition of halal meat, amid fears that the ritual slaughter process could be banned.
The Government recently moved to assure Islamic and Jewish butchers that the killing of animals without stunning them first - required under the holy laws of both religions - could continue.
The announcement came following a report by the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC), which advises the Government and which said the practice should be outlawed.
It provoked outrage among religious leaders and the recommendation was brushed aside, but now the Government has revived concerns after suggesting that stunning after an animal's throat is cut could be the answer.
Under Muslim law, animals reared for meat must be killed using a method known as Zibah.
During this process an animal has its throat cut as special prayers are said and the blood is allowed to drain freely from the body.
However, there are disagreements over whether animals can be stunned by electric shock in any way beforehand. And this is where people like Abdul Malik, who has four butchers shops in the city, want the rules clarified.
For example, he believes that chickens should not be stunned in any way - their weak hearts often mean they die immediately.
But he says that there is some argument over a degree of stunning for lambs and ewes, which are much larger and therefore harder to control.
Mr Malik, aged 30, said: "The standard for stunning for me, as far as chicken is concerned, is that it's haram - forbidden. There needs to be a new body something like a Muslim Food Commission. The Government is looking at stunning after the knife as a possible option. But that makes no sense at all."
The Halal Food Authority governs correct practices in this country but Mr Malik believes the law needs tightening.
There have been claims that one abattoir, for example, attaches chickens to a conveyor belt and the birds pass through ‘whirring blades' while a speeded-up tape of prayers - to match the speed of the knives - is played.
The consultation period for the proposal on a ‘post-cut stun' is due to run until June this year after which changes to the law may be made.
There are strongly held beliefs on both sides over whether slaughter without stunning is humane.
Some research appears to show that animals whose throats are cut with a razor-sharp knife suffer less, because the fast blood loss while their hearts are still pumping means they effectively pass out.
Halal advocates also say that stunning an animal is cruel because it causes intense pain at the point of electrocution.
Sometimes it does not work and the animal is still alive when it is dropped into boiling water during the processing of the meat.
By contrast, the FAWC said that slaughter without stunning is inherently cruel and causes animals severe distress.
There is also a commercial issue -it is much quicker to kill animals by stunning and electrocution and the processing can be less complicated.
Animal welfare minister Ben Bradshaw said proposals for a post-cut stun for cattle should receive further consideration, but he accepted at the same time the depth of feeling and deeply-held beliefs of religious groups.
He added: "We do not intend to pursue a mandatory system for this and intend to explore whether progress can be made on a voluntary basis. We would welcome the views of the communities concerned."
Mr Bradshaw also suggested that the consultation provides an opportunity to start a debate on whether meat from animals slaughtered without prior stunning for the kosher and halal markets should be labelled voluntarily Consultation will continue until June.