Compassion in World Farming believes that suffering at slaughter can be avoided, provided certain basic principles are met:

The transport and handling of the animal prior to slaughter minimises stress
Death is instantaneous, or
The animal is instantaneously stunned and remains unconscious until dead
The method of inducing unconsciousness and death is not in itself likely to cause stress

The law requires animals in the UK to be effectively stunned before slaughter. However, exceptions are made which permit some religious communities to slaughter without pre-stunning. This applies to slaughter by the Jewish method (Shechita) or by the Muslim method (Halal).

Compassion believes there should be no exemptions, and the law should be changed to require all animals to be effectively stunned before slaughter, regardless of the slaughter method that is then used (this also applies to mis-stunning in conventional abattoirs). In Great Britain, all slaughterhouses have CCTV installed in order to assist with the monitoring of slaughter to help prevent cruelty. We believe all of the UK should have this in place.

Welfare concerns

Loop-holes, poor enforcement, and a lack of suitable legislations can all impact the welfare of animals at the time of slaughter. There are a range of serious welfare concerns currently affecting vast numbers of animals across Europe.

Derogations to UK law allow animals to be slaughtered without pre-stunning for consumption by the Jewish and Muslim community. Slaughter without effective pre-stunning causes unacceptable suffering. In a survey carried out in 2022, more than 3% of animals were slaughtered using a non-stunned method for halal reasons.
EU Legislation lays down parameters for stunning which must be followed in the UK.

However, where religious methods are used, these rules don't apply. With option of lowering currents or not stunning at all, legal. Slaughter without stunning or ineffectively stunned is a concern. For example, chickens slaughtered for Halal meat as due to their religious methods, chickens are being immobilised rather than unconscious, so they still feel pain and aware of what is happening when their throat is cut. And around 2% of chickens may also be slaughtered for Kosher and Halal without stunning and 1% using currents that are likely not to be effective in the UK, according to the FSA latest figures.
90% of pigs are slaughtered by gassing. This method uses carbon dioxide which is a burning and then drowning-like sensation and can cause around 15-30 seconds of severe suffering prior to the pigs losing consciousness.
Approximately 77 million fish are slaughtered annually. Although we believe most are humanely killed, their welfare remains largely neglected by UK law. Legislation is needed to ensure that farmed fish, like other sentient animals, are fully protected in the UK.

For too long, large numbers of animals in Britain have been killed in a way that causes immense suffering - but which is within the law. Although some progress has been made - such as the Government's introduction of legislation requiring CCTV in all slaughterhouses in Great Britain - it is essential that UK decision makers introduce mandatory method of slaughter labelling and, ultimately, prevent all non-stun slaughter. Email your MP now.