Halal describes what is ‘fit and proper’ for Muslims to eat. It gives a range of beverages and foods (including meat) that are acceptable. Halal food laws are based on interpretation of the Quran, the Muslim scripture. Before halal slaughter, prayers to Allah are required.
A standard for meat production in Australia is that all animals must be effectively stunned prior to slaughter. A form of halal slaughter complies with the standard and is commonly used in export abattoirs. The only difference between this halal-slaughter method is that it uses a reversible (electrical) stunning method, while conventional humane slaughter uses an irreversible (physical) stunning method.
However, there are other forms of halal slaughter that do not stun animals prior to slaughter. In these instances, the relevant state or territory meat-inspection authority can approve an abattoir for ritual slaughter for the domestic market. The requirements for this type of slaughter are set out in a nationally adopted guideline Ritual Slaughter for Ovine (Sheep) and Bovine (Cattle).
For cattle, this means the animal must remain in an upright position with the head and body restrained. The animal must be stunned with a captive-bolt pistol immediately after the throat is cut (known as ‘sticking’). Two separate people must perform the sticking and stunning. If there are any problems restraining the animal while attempting to stick it, then it must be stunned immediately.
For religious slaughter of sheep, the guideline requires cutting both the carotid arteries and the jugular veins. This must be confirmed — if they are not completely severed, then the animal must be immediately stunned.
Cattle and sheep requirements are different because cattle have an extra blood supply to the brain through the back of the neck. Therefore, cutting cattle’s throats results in less-rapid loss of consciousness.
The RSPCA is concerned there are greater risks of animal suffering during this type of religious slaughter than for conventional slaughter. Fortunately, the number of animals involved is a tiny percentage of all animals killed. The method is distressing to the animal due to:
The use of stunning during the slaughter process can remove some, but not all, of these concerns.
The RSPCA definition of humane killing is: ‘an animal must be either killed instantly or rendered insensible to pain until death supervenes’. When killing animals for food, this means they must be stunned before slaughter so they immediately become unconscious.
The RSPCA policy on ritual slaughter is clear: sticking prior to stunning is inhumane and completely unnecessary. It is opposed to inhumane methods of killing, religious customs aside, and continues to promote this view to governments and the public.
What you can do to help: contact Minister Tony Burke and tell him your are opposed to inhumane methods of killing animals, including the killing of animals without prior stunning to ensure that they are insensible to pain.
For further information, see:
Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals: Livestock at Slaughtering Establishments (http://www.publish.csiro.au/books/download.cfm?ID=2975)
Australian Standard for the Hygienic Production and Transportation of Meat and Meat Products for Human Consumption (http://www.publish.csiro.au/books/download.cfm?ID=3150)
