Closed petition: Ban the non-stun slaughter of animals
Closed on
Ban non-stun slaughter. We think it is cruel and causes unnecessary harm to the animals being slaughtered/butchered.
31,900 signatures
Petition progress
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Petition closed
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Government responded to this petition
The government prefers all animals to be stunned before slaughter. The law established in 1933 respects the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.
Read the response in full
The government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter and would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter. However, we respect the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs. The government, therefore, has no plans to ban slaughter without stunning.
The first national legislative requirement for stunning before slaughter in England and Wales was the Slaughter of Animals Act 1933. The Act also introduced an exception from the requirement to stun when animals are slaughtered in accordance with religious rites, for the food of Muslims and Jews.
Over the years, the rules governing religious slaughter have developed to provide additional protection to animals slaughtered without stunning. These rules ensure that animals are spared avoidable pain, suffering or distress during the slaughter process.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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Government will respond to this petition
This petition got more than 10,000 signatures meaning that government will respond to it.
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Petition published
This petition can now be signed.
If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.
If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.
This petition will stay open until 1 March 2026.