Taken from here...


"What is the RSPCA doing about religious slaughter?

We recognise that religious beliefs and practices should be respected. We also believe that it is important to ensure that animals are slaughtered under the most humane conditions possible.

Scientific research has clearly shown that slaughter of an animal without stunning can cause unnecessary suffering, and so we are opposed to the slaughter of any animal without first making it insensible to pain and distress.

We continue to press for changes in the law that would improve the welfare of all animals at the time of slaughter. Until this occurs, we propose the following.


•The Jewish and Muslim communities in the UK should review their slaughter practices.

In New Zealand, for example, all animals slaughtered by the Halal method are stunned before slaughter, and all animals slaughtered by the Kosher method are stunned shortly after the cut is made in the animal's neck. Similar progress has already been made in some abattoirs in the UK and this should be extended to cover all animals slaughtered by religious methods.

•All meat produced from animals that have not been stunned before slaughter should be clearly labelled, so that consumers can choose whether or not to eat / buy it.

If you share our concerns about animal welfare at slaughter, you may be interested to know more about how you can help."