Yes Jack,I didn't mean the Government has changed hygiene rules, just relaxed slaughter rules.

I wholeheartedly agree with you about animal welfare while being reared. In our area, although we're mainly arable, we have quite a bit of farming for meat too. Our pigs seem to be housed in outdoor fields with little huts for them to sleep in at night. They can gallop around the field all day. Many chickens here are raised 'free-range' although avian flu rearing its ugly head again has meant keeping the birds in barns for now. Lambs are out in the fields until slaughter. There isn't much beef farming here though.

My husband says halal is humane and quick, with dignity and respect for the animal (prayer and so on). However, UK Vets have disagreed and say it isn't humane at all.
There are very few Muslims here in Norfolk. Most Indian restaurants and takeaways are used by non-Muslims. I'm not sure what religion the proprietors/cooks are.