An MP has today called for all meat products from animals slaughtered without stunning to be labelled.
Conservative MP for Tatton Esther McVey introduced a ten minute rule bill which would bring in compulsory labelling for all meat products from non-stun slaughter to ensure consumer choice.
Animal welfare legislation requires all animals to be stunned before slaughter to minimise pain and suffering. But religious exemptions allow slaughter without stunning to meet Jewish and Muslim dietary preferences for kosher and halal meat.
While all kosher meat in the UK is from non-stun slaughter, stunned halal meat is widely accepted among Muslims – although a significant proportion of animals killed for halal meat are not stunned.
The National Secular Society, which campaigns to remove religious exemptions from animal welfare laws, briefed MPs ahead of the bill’s introduction.
Ten minute rule bills are highly unlikely to become law and are generally used to raise awareness of an issue.
UK ‘can no longer claim’ to be “world leader” in animal welfare
Introducing the bill, McVey said a lack of stunning causes animals “severe pain”, so consumers who want to avoid non-stun meat should have the information to do so. She said many religious groups also want to know whether meat is halal or kosher, as some are opposed to meat slaughtered according to the rites of a different religion. She said “clear labelling is essential to make an informed choice”.
McVey highlighted that even though religiously slaughtered meat must be intended for Jewish or Muslim consumers, there is a dramatic oversupply of this meat and much of it is exported.
She suggested some slaughterhouses choose non-stun slaughter because it is cheaper, which is “not what was intended by the legislation” exempting halal and kosher meat from animal welfare laws. She said the exemption has created a “two tier system” for slaughterhouses.
McVey expressed disappointment that the Government’s animal welfare strategy published in January failed to mention non-stun slaughter or labelling, saying a “clear opportunity” was missed. She pointed out a Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs consultation in 2021 found nearly 97% of responses to a question on labelling said the Government should introduce mandatory labelling for meat to indicate the method of slaughter.
McVey said that despite the UK having a reputation as a “world leader” in animal welfare, the issue of non-stun slaughter means this country “can no longer make such a claim”.
In an Express piece yesterday, McVey referenced NSS research that many UK supermarkets, as well as schools, have supplied unlabelled meat from halal or kosher slaughter.
No opposition speech was given in response to the bill.
NSS: “If the status quo continues, animals will continue to suffer unnecessarily”
NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson said: “We welcome this opportunity to raise non-stun slaughter in Parliament – and successive governments’ failings on this issue.
“Despite this slaughter method causing avoidable pain to animals, and despite the clear lack of consumer choice, the animal welfare strategy omitted non-stun slaughter and labelling completely.
“If the status quo continues, animals will continue to suffer unnecessarily, religious groups will continue to be given halal and kosher meat without their consent, and consumers will continue to be in the dark when it comes to choosing products that meet their ethical principles.
“While non-stun slaughter remains legal, mandatory labelling for this method must be introduced.”