29 June 2017

Flemish parliament: green light to prohibition on slaughter without stunning

On Wednesday, the Flemish parliament unanimously passed, with only one s.pa abstention, the prohibition on ritual slaughter without stunning.

This willl be effective from 2019. Stunning will thus be compulsory for the majority of animal species, using the process of electrical stunning. For beef and calves, the stunning technique is not yet ready to operate. For these animals, stunning occurs immediately after slitting the animal’s throat.

In Flanders, the discussion around instigating a general prohibition on slaughter without stunning has been ongoing for a long time. Political support favouring such a measure has gained momentum over recent years. However, the matter has met with reluctance and legal obstacles. [The Brussels Times] Read more