End non-stun slaughter for farm animals
The UK law requires animals to be stunned before slaughter, rendering them unconscious, so they don't feel pain or experience suffering and distress during the slaughter process. However, there is an exemption from this requirement that permits non-stun slaughter for religious purposes.
Why the law doesn't currently apply to all animals for slaughter
The legal exemption is to provide Halal and Kosher meat, for the Muslim and Jewish communities, respectively.
- Around 88% of animals slaughtered in the UK for Halal are stunned first
- All animals slaughtered under the Shechita (for Kosher) are non-stunned
We acknowledge that religious beliefs and practices should be respected. But we must also prioritise ending animal suffering where possible. Pre-stunning animals before killing is the most humane method.
Learn more about pre-stunning and religious slaughter.
In 2024, 26 million chickens, 3.1 million sheep, and 51,000 cattle were slaughtered without pre-stunning.
All animals should be pre-stunned first
We believe all livestock must be stunned prior to slaughter. We'd like to see a number of improvements to better protect the animals subjected to non-stun slaughter.
Improvements needed while pre-stunning remains legal
- Around 88% of animals slaughtered in the UK for Halal are stunned first
- All animals slaughtered under the Shechita (for Kosher) are non-stunned
- Adopt a non-stun permit system to track the number of animals slaughtered without prior stunning to ensure it does not exceed the relevant demand of the UK’s religious communities.
- A ban on the export of meat from animals that have not been stunned before slaughter.
- Clear labelling of meat and meat products from animals that have not been stunned before slaughter.
- Improve public procurement - public service should only obtain meat from animals stunned before slaughter. Exceptions are only made at the specific request of a religious community in the UK.
- Continue positive discussions with religious certification bodies to reduce the number of animals slaughtered without pre-stunning and promote the stunning of all animals.
- Improve the slaughter process to limit the period of consciousness after neck cutting e.g. immediate post-cut stunning.
- Robust and regular governmental reporting on the number of animals that have not been stunned before slaughter, and the amount of non-stun meat that has been exported.
Report a concern
Worried about farm animal cruelty or neglect? Use our tool to report it quickly and get them the help they need.