Welsh Assembly scraps petition to ban non-stun slaughter
Long-running row which was launched via petition in 2012 had just 400 signatures, with the BVA and RSPCA calling for any new government to ban the practice
The Welsh Assembly has shelved a long-running petition to ban the non-stun slaughter of animals in Wales, citing “a lack of recent evidence”.
First raised in 2012, it had only 400 signatures until last week, when the Assembly’s Petitions Committee said it would close it down, while pursuing a parallel petition for the mandatory installation of CCTV in all slaughterhouses.
In the past two weeks the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the National Secular Society and the British Veterinary Association (BVA) have all called for any incoming Government to ban non-stun slaughter in the UK.
Earlier this year, Belgium became the latest European country to ban the non-stun slaughter of animals in Flanders and Wallonia.
At the time, BVA president Simon Doherty said: “The UK government has repeatedly stated it would prefer to see all animals stunned before slaughter, but has taken no action to address this.”
He added: “It is doubly disappointing that data that would have provided a valuable benchmark for levels of non-stun slaughter in the UK has yet to see the light of day, despite assurances throughout last year that it would soon be made public.”
comments