Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the ritual manner of slaughtering animals for kosher and halal meat is in accordance with European Union regulations on animal welfare; and if not, what action they are taking.

Council Regulation (EC) 1099/2009, on the protection of animals at the time of killing, permits the slaughter of animals in accordance with religious rites. It also contains strict requirements that need to be observed when carrying out such slaughter and allows individual Member States to put in place additional, national rules that provide greater welfare protection. The UK has maintained its long-standing existing national rules on religious slaughter in addition to the European regulation.