Dutch May Ban Kosher Slaughter of Livestock

It could have a snowball effect for other countries in Europe, although probably it certainly won't be seen as politically correct.

Excerpted from the Irish Times....

THE DUTCH parliament has voted overwhelmingly to ban the ritual slaughter of livestock. This could halt production of kosher and halal meat in the Netherlands – and lead to similar campaigns in other European countries.

However, Jewish and Islamic groups which can prove animals do not suffer more during ritual killing than in an ordinary slaughterhouse will be able to apply for permits.

In a move aimed at further defusing the controversy over the proposed ban, deputy prime minister Maxime Verhagen gave an undertaking no new legislation would be signed into law until approved by the senate. Dutch law requires animals to be stunned before slaughter, but has long allowed an exemption for Muslims and orthodox Jews, who can legally butcher animals according to their centuries-old dietary rules

Reform Pending for Kosher Slaughter Practices

We've been following the controversies surrounding methods of kosher killing. It looks like the criticisms have finally made a dent.

Amid claims by animal rights groups of gratuitous suffering, the Chief Rabbinate is planning to gradually phase out the use of the "shackle and hoist" method of kosher slaughter in Israel and South America.

"We are working toward upgrading the way animals are prepared for slaughter to minimize animal suffering," a Chief Rabbinate spokesman said Sunday on behalf of Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yona Metzger, who is responsible for kashrut supervision.

The spokesman refrained from saying what steps Metzger would take to encourage slaughterhouse owners to make the transition from the cheaper shackle and hoist method to the more expensive "rotating pen" method.

We plan to meet soon with importers and slaughterhouse owners who use the method in an attempt to reach an agreement," said the spokesman.

Photo by guylookin4fun06.

Cruel Kosher Slaughter Practice

Did you know this?

American rabbis and animal rights groups oppose the practice known as "shackle and hoist," in which a cow is strung up by a hind leg and then dropped on the ground before its throat is slit.

The practice is common among kosher meat producers because Israel's Chief Rabbinate requires cows to be upside down when they are slaughtered.

Yikes.

Photo by rasputina2.

Calls to Stop Kosher Killings in Australia

Kosher killings of sheep in Australia are apparently being carried out against government standards for ritual slaughters.

The killings are primarily for the export market in Israel (ritual slaughter of animals for Jewish and Muslim markets requires that the animal is killed by having its throat slit.) Animal rights activists are claiming that the animal is not being stunned before it is slaughtered.

The RSPCA and Animals Australia believe that killing without any form of electrical stunning of conscious sheep is illegal under the current industry standard and have called on the minister to intervene as the practice escalates in Victoria.

The Australian standard for ritual slaughter states that animals must be electrically stunned, however exemption permits have been issued under special arrangements made under a legally disputed guideline.

It is believed abattoirs at Kyneton and Geelong last week began killing 1000 sheep each a week without stunning for kosher exports to Israel, while abattoirs at Warrnambool and Cranbourne were set to follow.

Photo by solarsunset3.