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Ministers fail to reach decision on animal slaughter regulation

Australian agriculture ministers have failed to resolve discussions over ritual slaughters, meaning exemptions that allow some Australian abattoirs to conduct slaughter without prior stunning will continue.

On Friday, state and federal government representatives met to discuss the issues at the 21st Primary Industries Ministerial Council meeting.

There are 12 abattoirs in Australia that are exempt from the regulations that say animals for consumption must be stunned before they are slaughtered.

The exemptions are on religious or cultural grounds, but animal welfare groups want to practice stopped altogether.

The council released a statement following the meeting, saying ministers have reviewed the results of a two-year consultation process with stakeholders and have considered the science involved and the views of religious groups, but could not reach a conclusion.

The council said discussions will continue with the religious groups “in order to settle an applicable risk management framework”.

Up to 250,000 animals are killed without prior stunning in Australia every year under the religious slaughter exemptions and the RSPCA has rejected claims that stunning is not allowed on religious grounds, saying stunning is accepted by the Islamic community and Jewish community and no reason existed for un-stunned slaughter to continue.

It accused agriculture ministers of being cowardly in the meeting, saying a decision should have been made.

"These ministers have at hand the overwhelming evidence that cutting the throats of conscious animals is cruel and causes significant pain and suffering," RSPCA Australia Scientific Officer, Melina Tensen told Beef Central.

The Executive Council of Australian Jewry argues that slaughtering methods authorised by halacha (shechita) have been an important aspect of Jewish life for 3000 years.

It says shechita has been accepted in civilised societies for centuries as a humane way of slaughtering livestock for consumption.

Image: Animals Australia

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