Religious Slaughter Discussion Paper Released
The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC) has released a discussion paper on religious slaughter. Public feedback will help NAWAC write a draft code of welfare for the commercial slaughter of animals. The code will look at the minimum welfare standards that should apply to religious slaughter.
The Animal Welfare Act 1999 requires that animals must be killed in such a manner that they do not suffer unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress. Currently the welfare of stock at slaughter is addressed by the Slaughter of Stock, Game and Poultry Regulations 1969, which were made under the Meat Act 1964. These regulations remain in place until replaced by a new code of welfare (under the Animal Welfare Act) relating to the commercial slaughter of animals.
Two Agreements Already in Place
With one exception the current regulations require all animals to be stunned before slaughter. The exception applies to slaughter carried out for religious purposes. Two voluntary agreements are currently in place for halal and kosher slaughter.
The halal agreement involves pre-stunning (that is, a stun before the throat is cut) which means that it meets the general standard. Kosher slaughter does not involve pre-stunning but the Jewish community has agreed to a post-stun (that is, a stun within 10 seconds of the throat being cut) for cattle, which take a longer time to become insensible than sheep.
Codes of welfare set out details relating to the obligations of the Act, in particular setting minimum standards. The Animal Welfare Act allows for standards to be made in certain circumstances, which depart from the purpose of the Act. These circumstances include meeting the requirements of religious practices.
| Submissions close 1 June 2001. Copies of the discussion paper are available from the MAF website at www.maf.govt.nz/animalwelfare/religious-requirements.htm , or from the NAWAC Secretary, PO Box 2526, Wellington, tel (04) 474 4296, fax (04) 498 9888 |
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 00 83 33
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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