Plan to label ritually slaughtered meat angers religious groups

Consumers could be told whether the meat they buy comes from animals that have not been stunned before slaughter, following a move in the European parliament.

MEPs on the food safety committee voted on Tuesday to back amendments to a food labelling bill that would see the mandatory inclusion of labels stating “meat from slaughter without stunning” on relevant food products.

The proposals, which go before the European parliament in July, target meat slaughtered using ritual techniques like those employed by Jewish shechita and Muslim halal butchers.

Animals killed by the shechita technique are not stunned before having their throats cut and blood drained out. Halal meat is slaughtered using a similar technique, although research by the British Veterinary Association suggests 80% of halal meat is stunned before slaughter.

Religious groups have expressed anger at the proposals. A Jewish campaign group, Shechita UK, controversially claimed the measure was the “21st-century equivalent of the yellow star, but on our food”. “This amendment does nothing to improve animal welfare, fails to fully inform consumers and is clearly discriminatory by design,” said Henry Grunwald, spokesman for the group.

His comments were attacked by the British Humanist Association. “To compare the proper labelling of meat from religious slaughter methods with the Nazi requirement for all Jews to wear yellow Stars of David is grotesque and false,” said Naomi Phillips, its head of public affairs. “Giving consumers the information to make ethical choices about the meat they buy through labelling does not prevent Jews who wish to from buying kosher meat.”

Scottish Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson, who introduced the amendments to the bill, had originally suggested the labels should record whether meat was halal or shechita. But he opted for the “non-stunned” label after representations from religious groups.

Stevenson insisted his proposals were born from “animal welfare concerns, not by anything to do with religion“. Stevenson said: “A very significant quantity of meat finding its way onto our shelves and tables has been slaughtered by this method and we’re not aware of it. The public have a right to know.”

The UK government has signalled it opposes the proposals, which, to become law, also need to be endorsed by the council of ministers, the body comprised of representatives of governments drawn from each of the EU’s 27 member states.
Reference: http://halalfocus.net/2011/04/24/plan-to-label-ritually-slaughtered-meat-angers-religious-groups/

Establishing a manufacturing plant to produce halal medicines

Yang Berhormat Dato Paduka Awang Haji Idris, enquired if the joint-venture between the Ministry of Finance and the Canadian Pharmaceutical Company, VIVA, has gone into operation? Yang Berhormat welcomed efforts toward establishing a manufacturing plant to produce halal medicines, vitamins and nutritional supplement.

The Minister of Health, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan, invited the Second Minister of Finance at the Prime Minister's Office to respond to the matter.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman, said the manufacturing 'plant' sector to produce medicines is an area identified as having potential to be developed and it is hoped it would further enhance the government's revenue especially in the non-oil and gas sector. Yang Berhormat said the establishment of VIVA Pharmacy Sendirian Berhad or Viva Brunei, constitutes a project that can be implemented under the Brunei auspices. Viva Pharmaceutical Incorporated Canada, the Minister said, was established in 1984 in Canada and produces pharmaceutical and natural health products. The Company aspires to become the leading supplier in halal certified medicines, vitamins and nutritional supplement not only for the local market but also regional and middle east markets.
Courtesy by: Brunei News

Kuwait Resolutions supports the banning of machine slaughter for Halal.

"The First Gulf Conference on Halal Industry and its Services". Organized by Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs State of Kuwait, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research and GCC Standardization Organization. 

The conference which was hosted by the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs of Kuwait (MAIASK), the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), and GCC Standardization Organization.

The conference enjoyed the cooperation with international specialized organizations in the halal standards industry, the Kuwait Awqaf Public Foundation, the Public Authority for Industry in Kuwait, Halal Industry Development Foundation for the Awqaf Ministry of Malaysia, International Halal Integrity Alliance of Malaysia (IHIA), the Association of Awareness and Information to the Defence of Muslim Consumers in France (ASIDCOM), Muslim council of Britain (MCB), and the Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America (IFANCA).

The conference also lined up diverse group of speakers from all over the world, including Malaysia, South Africa, USA and UK. The conference covered a wide array of topics ranging such as global halal standards, status of ingredients, and animal welfare standards.

Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs, Minister of Justice, and Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Rashed Al-Hammad said, “All products of this industry should be fully compliant to the provisions of Islamic sharia.” the minister made his remarks when addressing the first Gulf conference on halal.

The Conference called for providing the necessary financial support for scientific research centres and universities to conduct research on ways to detect Hararn (prohibited) materials in the foods, considering the great need for such findings in substantiating the religious decisions adopted by the Islamic jurisprudence bodies.
The Conference recommends applying caution with the use of stunning methods as much as possible and alternatively advocates use of hand slaughtering when performing Zibbah, with emphasis on the enforcement of the Islamic jurisprudence bodies resolutions, and in particular the Decision of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy No: 95 (3 / 10).
The Conference recommends referring the scientific papers presented throughout the conference sessions on stunning methods to the International Islamic Fiqh Academy for review and appraisal.
At the conclusion of the conference the participants decided to extend their deepest thanks and gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Sabah A1-Ahmad A1- Iaber A1-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait, may Allah protect him, and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad A1-Iaber A1-Sabah, the Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Moharmriad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister for Legal Affairs, and Minister of Iustice, the Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Chancellor Rashed Abdul Mohsen Al-Hammad Chancellor, for his patronage of the Conference.

Courtesy by: Halal World