§ Mr. WyattTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take to seek implementation of the EU Slaughter Directive which would outlaw the slaughter of animals without pre-stunning at open air festivals. [46765]
§ Mr. MorleyDirective 93/119/EC on the protection of animals at the time of slaughter or killing is not clear as to whether religious slaughter is permitted outside of slaughterhouses. The Directive was implemented in GB by the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations 1995. The Regulations permit the slaughter of animals elsewhere than in slaughterhouses without stunning for reasons of religion. Such slaughter must be carried out in accordance with specific legal requirements, by a licensed slaughterman and in the presence of an authorised person. More recently, the European Commission has stated that in its opinion open-air religious slaughter is in fact prohibited by the Directive. We therefore intend to reconsider the position, in consultation with all those with an interest, later this year.
§ Mr. WyattTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce measures for the labelling of meat to identify at the point of sale meat which has been ritually slaughtered. [46766]
§ Mr. MorleyMeat from animals slaughtered to provide food for the religious communities is already identified at the point of sale. It is the Government's intention to discuss with representatives of the religious communities all aspects of religious slaughter, including the entry onto the general market of meat from animals slaughtered without prior stunning.