Thank you to those constituents who have contacted me about non-stun slaughter. I support the Government’s intention to continue to allow the religious slaughter of animals for consumption by Muslims and Jews although, as a vegetarian for over 40 years, I would of course prefer for all animals to be stunned before slaughter. However, allowing Muslims and Jews to eat meat prepared in accordance with their beliefs is an important religious freedom.

There is a long history to upholding this freedom. Since the Slaughter of Animals Act 1933, there has been exemption from stunning for religious slaughter by Jews and Muslims. I am assured when animals are slaughtered either by the Jewish method or the Muslim method without prior stunning, there are additional animal welfare rules that apply to ensure that animals are spared avoidable pain, suffering or distress during the slaughter process. These include improvements to sheep handling, a ban on cattle inversion and a minimum length of time between being cut and processed.

Although there are currently no regulations to require the labelling of non-stunned slaughtered meat for consumers, legally any information provided must be accurate and not misleading. The previous Government undertook a consultation on method-of-production labelling and Ministers are looking closely at submissions. I will follow developments and the forthcoming response to the consultation with interest.

I continue to support monitoring and enforcement of our animal welfare regulations to ensure high standards are maintained, including at the approved slaughterhouses where religious slaughter must take place. I also support the use of CCTV in slaughterhouses where live animals are present.

Thank you once again for contacting me about this complex issue. I support the Government as it continues to engage with both animal welfare and religious communities.

Best wishes

Rt Hon Hilary Benn
MP for Leeds South
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland