The RSPCA has renewed calls to end non-stun slaughter as the Food Standards Authority (FSA) releases figures showing a rise in animals slaughtered without pre-stunning – which now stands at around half million animals every week.
The figures show that there have been 30.11 million animals slaughtered without pre-stunning in 2024 which is a 18.5 per cent increase from 2022 (25.4 million) when the figures were last released.
Non-stun slaughter has risen for both halal and Shechita with a 20.9 per cent increase in non-stunned halal and a 2 per cent increase in non-stunned kosher.
In 2024:
- 26m meat chickens were slaughtered without pre-stunning – 2.8 per cent of total farmed
- 3.1m sheep were slaughtered without pre-stunning – 28.7 per cent of total farmed
- 51,000 cattle were slaughtered without pre-stunning – 2.7 per cent of total farmed
Seriously compromised welfare
David Bowles, Head of Public Affairs at the RSPCA, said, “We are disappointed to see that the numbers of animals slaughtered without pre-stunning has risen since the figures were last reported two years ago.
“This is a real concern as, based on predictions, this means over half a million animals are slaughtered without stunning every single week. We have long campaigned to bring an end to non-stun slaughter and would like to see a change in the law which would protect the welfare of millions of farmed animals.
“We acknowledge that religious beliefs and practices should be respected. However, all animals should be treated humanely at the time of killing and therefore be stunned prior to slaughter as not doing so seriously compromises their welfare.
“We would also like to see a ban on exporting non stunned meat from the UK which we believe breaks the tenet, if not the wording, in our slaughter legislation. The current figures released by the FSA on exports of non-stunned meat are ambiguous at best but show exports of halal non-stunned meat. We urge the FSA to offer more clarity on this issue on numbers and destinations of this meat which we believe is against the thrust of the law.”
Legislation in the UK requires all farm animals to be stunned before they’re slaughtered. Stunning ensures animals are unconscious at the time of slaughter, so they cannot feel pain or suffer. For slaughter to be humane, it’s essential that animals are effectively stunned. However, laws in UK nations, inherited from the EU, contain exemptions that permit the slaughter of sheep, goats, cattle and birds without pre-stunning. This exemption is made when the slaughter is for religious purposes, such as Halal and Kosher meat for Muslim and Jewish communities, respectively.
It can be considered permissible under Islamic law for the animals to be pre-stunned. In fact, the FSA figures show that in 2024 around 88 per cent of animals slaughtered in the UK by the Halal method are stunned first, showing that animal welfare and religious slaughter can work together.