A petition demanding a ban on non-stun animal slaughter has exceeded 26,000 signatures, prompting a formal response from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Launched by Chris Fulgoni, the petition states: “Ban non-stun slaughter. We think it is cruel and causes unnecessary harm to the animals being slaughtered/butchered.” As of recent updates, it has reached 26,262 supporters.
Government’s Position on Animal Welfare
Defra emphasized the preference for stunning all animals prior to slaughter. In a statement issued on February 10, officials noted: “The Government prefers all animals to be stunned before slaughter.”
However, the response upholds long-standing legal protections for religious practices. “The law established in 1933 respects the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs,” it continued. “The Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter and would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter. However, we respect the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs. The Government, therefore, has no plans to ban slaughter without stunning.”
Historical and Regulatory Background
The Slaughter of Animals Act 1933 first mandated stunning before slaughter in England and Wales, while carving out exceptions for animals killed under religious rites for Jewish and Muslim communities.
Subsequent regulations have strengthened safeguards for non-stunned animals, ensuring they avoid unnecessary pain, suffering, or distress during the process.
Farmer’s Insights on the Debate
Mark Weekes, a 60-year-old sheep farmer based north of Exeter in Devon, highlighted the emotional bond farmers share with their livestock. “When we’ve cared for these animals for their entire lives and put blood, sweat, and tears into looking after them, many farmers don’t really want to think about that,” he said.
Weekes stressed the importance of understanding slaughter practices firsthand: “I do believe that if any farmer has any chance to walk an abattoir production line, they should. Because it shows respect to those animals.”
He described delivering lambs to slaughter as emotional and advocated for the best possible end for the animals. “It’s nice to think that they have the best death they can have,” he added.
Acknowledging the growing demand for non-stunned halal meat, Weekes ed respect for the trade: “I completely understand and appreciate that halal slaughtered lamb is a massive trade for UK sheep, and I completely understand and respect people’s want to have properly slaughtered halal meat.”
Calling for open dialogue, he urged: “Brits need to have a really sensible, grown-up conversation about it and really drill into the pros and cons of both systems.” Weekes believes most of the public would oppose non-stun methods.
