Religious slaughter: Reconciling animal welfare with freedom of religion or belief

The protection of animals at the time of slaughter is regulated at EU level by Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009. The regulation states that all animals should be stunned prior to having their throats cut. However, in order to ensure that some religious communities can consume meat in accordance with their precepts, and on the basis of the fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, a possible derogation from the stunning obligation may be applied. While it is up to individual Member States to decide whether to use this derogation, or to prohibit outright the slaughter of animals without stunning, the procedure is the subject of ongoing discussion and concern. While some groups see slaughter without stunning as a threat to animal welfare, religious groups defend their freedom to express their faith and recognise respect for animal welfare as a fundamental basis of their beliefs. According to scientific evidence, both methods of slaughter, with and without stunning, have critical points. In addition, the interpretation of scientific evidence, and that of religious beliefs, is part of the debate.