UK: Declaration on Machine Slaughter of poultry

PRESS RELEASE BY HALAL AUTHORITY BOARD24 FEBRUARY 2014

non halalThe Halal Authority Board (HAB) hosted a conference on 22nd February 2014 for delegates from around the UK, representing halal certification bodies, businesses, Muslim organisations, mosques and Islamic scholars.  A motion stating that machine slaughtering is haram and not acceptable to UK Muslims was formally adopted, and signed by those who attended.

An explanation from Islamic law was provided as to why this process should be considered haram in the UK, as per the consensus (Ijma) already approved by HAB Board of Scholars back in June 2012.  The joint declaration is:

“We, the undersigned, formally declare that the slaughter of animals by mechanical means, (including sacred blade) is not permissible and considered haram (forbidden) for Muslims.”

As a result of this, none of the recognised certification bodies in the UK will certify machine slaughtered poultry after the 3rd of March 2014.  This effectively means that 1.8 million machine slaughtered poultry every week (around 40% of ‘halal’ chickens), will be taken out of the UK halal food chain and will no longer be labelled as halal.  Muslim consumers in the UK are advised to be diligent to ensure that they only buy meat & poultry from credible UK certification bodies.

– End of Press Release –

Religious Minister of Craven Arms Islamic Centre Imam Sohaib Peerbhai said, “The Muslim community in the UK are united on the issue of mechanical slaughter being un-Islamic and he fully supports this as not permissible for Muslims.”

Naved Syed, Halal Advisor to the Yorkshire Association of Asian Businesses, said, “Today’s declaration by the UK Muslim community will remove over 1.8 million fresh Halal poultry slaughtered weekly by machine slaughter from the Halal market.

“This conference has endorsed the FSA’s own guidance note on Halal slaughter which also make’s clear that only hand slaughter will be deemed to be Halal. A copy of the guidance is available.

“There will be no longer be an ambiguous situation regarding machine slaughter as all the recognised certifiers have now banned this practice. Commencing 3rd March 2014 machine slaughter will not be certified Halal by recognised certifiers in the UK.”

The Yorkshire Association of Businesses’ members have asked for this declaration to be presented to DEFRA at a Planning Meeting in early March.