Polish parliament drops proposal to ban export of kosher, halal meat

Animal welfare activists oppose the slaughter of animals for kosher and halal meat because it precludes stunning before the animals’ throats are cut.

Cow illustrative (photo credit: KIM HANSEN/WIKIPEDIA)
Cow illustrative
(photo credit: KIM HANSEN/WIKIPEDIA)

(JTA) — A ban on the for-export production of kosher and halal meat in Poland is off the table for the parliament there.

An amendment to the draft of the Law on Animal Protection introduced Thursday by the agriculture committee omits the ban proposal from the bill submitted last week by the ruling Law and Justice party, wPolityce.pl reported.

Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz of the Polish People’s Party warned during a committee debate Thursday that banning the for-export production of halal and kosher meat would cost the Polish economy $1.8 billion.

The amended bill ends the breeding of animals for the fur industry, ban the use of circus animals and increase supervision on animal shelters.

Animal welfare activists oppose the slaughter of animals for kosher and halal meat because it precludes stunning before the animals’ throats are cut. Proponents of the practice reject claims it is cruel and say it induces a quick and humane death for the animal.