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Ritual slaughter not included in new regulations 01 Oct 2008

Ritual killing of animals by Muslims and Jews will not be included in a new European Commission animal welfare regulation dealing with conditions for slaughtering animals, according to reports.
Out of the 35 slaughter plants, six currently approved by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food provide ritual slaughter techniques.

Animals not stunned before slaughter
Animals that are ritually slaughtered have their throats cut while fully conscious and are not stunned before the time. Orthodox Jews and Muslims are not permitted to eat meat unless it is kosher or halal.
 
Freedom of religion takes precedence
“As freedom of religion is enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and also considered in the protocol on the protection and welfare of animals annexed to the treaty, that takes precedence in this particular case,” stated a Dublin spokeswoman for the commission.
 
According to a spokesman for the Department of Agriculture, the number of animals slaughtered using these methods differed largely from month to month. “Orders are usually made on a batch basis, depending on the customers’ requirements,” stated the spokeperson.

Religious slaughter project
The European Commission has started a research project two years ago on issues that relate to religious slaughter. The project is to finish off in October 2009, with proposals to reconcile the demand for religiously-slaughtered meat with requirements of animal welfare.

The regulation taken on by the commission will bring existing rules into line with food hygiene regulations. This will also entail regular monitoring of stunning equipment, to ensure that stunned animals do not regain consciousness before being killed.

Currently, the regulation has to be approved by the European Parliament.
 
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