Breakthrough in Shechita Negotiations at the European Parliament

Shechita UK has today welcomed the news that The European Parliament and the Council of Ministers have reached a preliminary agreement on the EU Regulation on food information for consumers.

In the course of the negotiations the Parliament has agreed to remove the amendment from the text of the regulation that would have required meat and meat products from animals not stunned prior to slaughter, to be so labelled.

In return, the European Council have agree to the inclusion of a ‘Recital’ (a non binding accompanying statement) which proposes that the Commission will look into whether or not to table a separate legislative proposal for the labelling of slaughter methods as part of the upcoming review of Animal Welfare Strategy towards the end of the year.

Henry Grunwald, Chairman of Shechita UK, commented, “This result is the culmination of months of intense lobbying together with Chief Rabbi Fiszon of Metz and our colleagues at the European Jewish Congress and we are hopeful that this text will now be formally approved by the full Council and Parliament. We are mindful however that we may well face yet further challenges when the matter is considered as part of the review of Animal Welfare Strategy and it is likely that we will need to call upon the community for their support once again.”

It is expected that the Council will formally endorse the agreement on the 22nd June and that the Parliament will vote on it on the 5th July.

For further information please contact Mark Frazer or Shimon Cohen on 0207 284 6969.