Shechita UK Welcomes Decision on the Regulation of Organic Production

Shechita UK has welcomed the decision of MEP’s at yesterday’s (13.10.15) European Parliament Committee of Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) to reject amendments to the new motion on organic production and the labelling of organic products, which would have made pre-stunning a requirement for all animals.

Amendments 1123, 1290 and 1291 had suggested that if two animals, who had lived parallel lives, but one had been the subject of religious slaughter, than that animal would not be able to be considered organic.

Shechita UK has worked with MEPs to ensure this was past and was encouraged by the response.

The proposal as a whole was adopted by 33 votes to 4, with 7 abstentions, and members also voted by 37 votes to 5, with 2 abstentions to give the Rapporteur the mandate to begin negotiations with the Council.

Following the decision, Shimon Cohen, Campaign Director of Shechita UK said,

‘It seems bizarre that two animals can live parallel lives, but as one undergoes religious slaughter, it can no longer be considered organic.’

 ‘Shechita UK worked tirelessly to achieve this result. We received extremely positive responses from many of those who turned out and voted against today’s amendments.