K A S H R U T . C O M_©

Amsterdam Journal: New Slaughtering Rules Pit Dutch Religious Freedoms Against Animal Rights

December 31, 2017 from the UK-News.net:

"The Dutch Party for the Animals, which currently has five seats in Parliament, first pushed for changes in 2010. The measure was passed by the lower house and then rejected by the senate, which nevertheless issued a resolution requiring the religious groups involved to develop slaughter practices with more consciousness toward animal welfare."
"ven though a compromise solution was developed, the Dutch animal rights party is again planning to introduce legislation early this year in an attempt to ban religious slaughter."
"There is only one slaughterhouse in the Netherlands where meat is slaughtered for kosher consumption, and that is done only one day a week."
"The new rules dictate that if an animal is not insensitive to pain within 40 seconds of slaughter, based on measures called “induced eyelid reflex” and “cornea reflex,” it must be shot."
"The new rules also state that the number of animals killed for kosher and halal meat must be limited to the amount 'necessary to meet the actual need of the religious communities present in the Netherlands.'"
The only kosher butcher "Slagerij Marcus, which relies on exports for 40 percent of its income, may find it difficult to stay in business."
"But not everyone is satisfied. The Party for the Animals, which first introduced the proposal in the Dutch Parliament seven years ago, said the accord did not go far enough."