§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Etherington) of 11 February 1999,Official Report, column 414, on inhumane slaughter, what plans he has to outlaw inhumane slaughtering in the United Kingdom. [72697]
334W
§ Mr. MorleyThe inhumane slaughter of farmed animals has long been contrary to the law in the United Kingdom. The Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995, and parallel regulations in Northern Ireland, implement EU requirements by making it an offence to cause any animal avoidable excitement, pain or suffering.
The Government have this week laid a statutory instrument amending these regulations: this is not, however, because it is necessary to strengthen the law on inhumane slaughter, but is in order to confine the conduct of slaughter which is carried out without stunning for religious reasons to licensed slaughterhouses.