Millions of animals are suffering unnecessarily by being slaughtered without stunning to meet religious demands.
That's why we campaign to end religious exemptions to animal welfare laws.
Animal welfare law requires animals to be stunned before slaughter to minimise their pain, suffering and distress. The only exemption is for Jewish and Muslim communities to meet kosher and halal religious dietary preferences.
The scientific consensus is clear that it is more humane to stun an animal prior to slaughter. The slaughter of animals without pre-stunning is permitted in the UK despite a recommendation by the government's own advisory body, the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC), that the practice should be banned. FAWC concluded that animals slaughtered without pre-stunning are likely to experience "very significant pain and distress".
RSPCA, Compassion in World Farming and the British Veterinary Association all support an end to non-stun slaughter to improve animal welfare at the time of death.
- 70% of Brits think stunning animals before slaughtering them is more ethical.
- 72% of the population think food produced from religious non-stun slaughter methods should be clearly labelled.
We support the right to religious freedom. But this is not an absolute right. Religious exemptions shouldn't be made to laws meant to prevent unnecessary animal cruelty.
Take action!
1. Write to your MP
Ask your MP to end the religious exemption that allows animals to be slaughtered without pre-stunning.
2. Share your story
Tell us why you support this campaign, and how you are personally affected by the issue. You can also let us know if you would like assistance with a particular issue.
3. Join the National Secular Society
Become a member of the National Secular Society today! Together, we can separate religion and state for greater freedom and fairness.
Latest updates
Council leader silencing debate on schools’ non-stun meat, NSS says
Posted: Thu, 17 Jan 2019 14:06
The National Secular Society has criticised the leader of Kirklees Council in West Yorkshire for "trying to silence" objections to the supply of non-stun halal meat to schools.
Kirklees debated the issue of non-stun meat in schools at a full council meeting on Wednesday, after recent NSS revelations that it and at least 16 other UK councils supply the meat.
Kirklees Council supplies non-stun halal to 43 schools.
After the debate the council's leader Shabir Pandor, of Labour, tweeted: "I'm closing the debate on halal at full council. Diversity is our strength.
"Those questioning our provision of halal don't have animal welfare at heart. They have targeted sections of the community which had caused fear. Our policy on halal will remain in place."
During the debate Pandor described opponents of the policy as a "small number of people" who "do not have as their priority animal welfare". A petition against the council's policy gathered almost 8,000 signatures in less than a month in late 2018.
Representatives of Labour and the Green party also made strong accusations against those expressing concern over non-stun meat. One Labour councillor called those supporting the campaign "divisive and despicable".
But Conservative councillor David Hall said the issue was one of animal welfare.
In response NSS chief executive Stephen Evans said: "It's bitterly disappointing to see councillors in Kirklees, particularly the council's leader, trying to silence debate over the supply of non-stun meat to schools in this way.
"While anyone who uses this issue to stir up anti-Muslim prejudice should be condemned, the scientific consensus is clear that stunning animals before they are slaughtered is more humane than not doing so. By supplying non-stun halal to dozens of schools Kirklees Council is normalising cruelty to animals. And its response to criticism of this appears to be to deflect attention by making blanket accusations against its critics. These mendacious silencing tactics must be called out for what they are.
"These councillors are dismissing the concerns of Kirklees residents who do not wish their council to supply this meat to children, including Muslims who reject the hardline interpretations of Islam that the council has effectively endorsed. Indeed the council's policy flies in the face of the fact that the majority of halal meat consumed by Muslims in the UK is from animals stunned prior to slaughter.
"Those who claim to be standing up for Muslims are in fact helping to stir social resentment and entrench reactionary views both among Muslims and against them."
The NSS, which briefed councillors before the debate, campaigns to repeal the religious exemption to the UK's animal welfare laws. The exemption allows animals to be killed without being stunned when the meat is intended for consumption by Muslims and Jews.
The NSS has previously raised concerns that non-stun meat is often sold or served to those who do not wish to eat it. Last year NSS research revealed that non-stun meat was widespread in UK supermarkets.
While the exemption remains in place the NSS advocates for the labelling of non-stun meat to allow consumers to make informed choices. The government has recently indicated that it will consider this measure.
Non-stun slaughter ban comes into effect in northern Belgium
Posted: Wed, 2 Jan 2019 11:46
The slaughter of animals without pre-stunning is set to be significantly reduced in Belgium after a ban came into effect in the north of the country.
A measure outlawing the slaughter of animals without pre-stunning took effect in the Flanders region on New Year's Day.
The region's parliament unanimously passed a resolution outlawing ritual slaughter without stunning in 2017. Flanders roughly covers the northern half of Belgium, also known as the Flemish region.
A similar measure is set to take effect in the Walloon region, which roughly covers the southern half of Belgium, in September. A committee of the Walloon parliament voted unanimously to end non-stun slaughter in 2017.
Slaughter of cows and calves will be exempt from the Walloon measure until a better stunning technique is developed for them.
The legislation in Flanders does not prevent non-stunned meat from being imported.
National Secular Society spokesperson Chris Sloggett said the legislation was "largely welcome" and should prompt similar action in the UK.
"Government policies on the treatment of animals should be led by the scientific evidence, which makes clear that non-stunned slaughter is inhumane. Religion should not be a get-out clause from reasonable protections on animal rights.
"The UK government should reflect on this legislation in Belgium and take similar steps to protect animal welfare and the principle of one law for all."
The NSS campaigns to repeal the religious exemption to animal welfare legislation. The exemption means animals may slaughtered without pre-stunning for religious reasons.
In October the NSS revealed that at least 17 councils were providing non-stun halal meat to dozens of schools.
The RSPCA, Compassion in World Farming and the British Veterinary Association have all criticised non-stun slaughter, along with many animal welfare experts.
The Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) – a UK government body – has said animals slaughtered without stunning are likely to experience "very significant pain and distress" before they become unconscious. FAWC has recommended outlawing non-stun slaughter.
The EU's scientific panel on animal health and welfare has said "pre-cut stunning should always be performed".
Ritual slaughter of animals without prior stunning is outlawed in European countries including Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The practice is partially outlawed in Switzerland.
In May two senior EU politicians said they would oppose restrictions on rituals such as genital cutting and religious animal slaughter, prompting NSS criticism.
Several religious leaders have criticised the Belgian measures including Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbis, and Menachem Margolin, who chairs the Europe Jewish Association.
Legal challenges have been launched against the legislation. One has been instigated by US-based think tank the Lawfare Project, which claims to campaign in favour of civil and human rights for Jews.
