Lawmakers to weigh ban on animal slaughter without prior stunning

On World Animal Day, the debate over slaughter without prior stunning sparked up again. Silvio Erkens, the state secretary for animal welfare from the VVD, told RTL that it is irritating that the Netherlands does not ban the practice. Partij voor de Dieren is planning on sending an initiative bill to Tweede Kamer that would prohibit slaughter without stunning.

In ordinary slaughter, animals are first stunned. They are either shot in the head with a captive bolt, the device that knocks them unconscious, or gassed. That does not happen in ritual slaughter. In Islamic slaughter, the animal’s throat is cut with a sharp knife while the animal is turned toward Mecca, and the butcher says the name of Allah. PVV and Partij voor de Dieren have pushed for the ban for years, while SGP and Denk stress freedom of religion.

Opponents of ritual slaughter mention prolonged pain. According to research from Wageningen University, sheep lose consciousness after about 15 seconds, and cattle after about 140. Veterinarians from the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority must intervene after 40 seconds and stun the animal if it still shows signs of consciousness.

Erkens rejected the idea that the change would be meant to harass Muslims. “Stunned ritual slaughter would still be possible,” he said. “Several European countries already ban slaughter without stunning- Denmark, Belgium, Greece, Austria, and some Scandinavian countries. The ban is already broader in Europe.”