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The stunning and slaughter of cattle within the EU: a review of the current situation with regard to the halal market

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

A Fuseini ,
TG Knowles ,
JA Lines ,
PJ Hadley  and
SB Wotton
A Fuseini*
Affiliation:
University of Bristol, School of Veterinary Science, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK
TG Knowles
Affiliation:
University of Bristol, School of Veterinary Science, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK
JA Lines
Affiliation:
Silsoe Livestock Systems Ltd, Wrest Park, Silsoe, Bedfordshire MK45 4HR, UK
PJ Hadley
Affiliation:
AHDB Beef and Lamb, The Baron Suite, Creech Castle, Bathpool, Taunton TA1 2DX, UK
SB Wotton
Affiliation:
University of Bristol, School of Veterinary Science, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: awalfus@yahoo.com
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Abstract

The slaughter of animals for the halal market is both ethically and economically significant. There are animal welfare and spiritual requirements that must be met for meat to be considered fit for Muslim consumption. These requirements are enshrined in Islamic law, known commonly as the Shariah law, derived from commandments in the Holy Quran and the Hadith (teachings or traditions of the Prophet of Islam, Mohammed, Peace Be Upon Him). Islamic jurists widely interpret the Shariah law differently, and this has led to debate as to whether pre-slaughter stunning is acceptable for halal slaughter. This paper reviews how these laws are interpreted and implemented and reviews the methods of stunning accepted by proponents of halal stunning. It also describes why some proponents of halal stunning do not accept irreversible stunning methods for producing halal beef within the EU, a situation which has meant that thousands of halal cattle are slaughtered without any form of stunning.

Keywords

animal welfarecattlehalalreversible stunningslaughterstunning
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , August 2016 , pp. 365 - 376
Copyright
© 2016 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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