EU - EU move to label Halal and kosher meat rejected, for now

The controversial move by European Council to label Halal and kosher meat without the use of stunning, which would effectively relegate them as second class meats, has been excluded from the final draft for now.


The version of the regulation which the Council has sent back to the European Parliament for consideration does not include Amendment 205, the clause which would have required that all meat and meat products slaughtered by halal and shechita methods, be pejoratively labeled.


This is in effect a reversal of the Parliament’s original amendment, and follows months of lobbying in Brussels by representatives of Shechita UK together with the European Jewish Congress.

“While we are very pleased with the outcome of the Council meeting, there is still much work to do to ensure that new laws are not introduced next year which discriminate against shechita “said Campaign Director Shimon Cohen.

The regulation now goes to second reading at the European Parliament where the controversial amendment, to label all meat products derived from the shechita method as effectively second class meat, could still be reintroduced when the new draft returns to the European Parliament for a second reading in 2011.

“The European Commission is beginning a new consultation next year on animal welfare labeling, and we are continuing to work in Brussels with the European Jewish Congress to explain to the European food authorities the humane nature of shechita slaughter," said Shimon Cohen.

"Our campaign is far from over, but we are making satisfactory progress, given the assault on shechita that was launched earlier this year by some Members of the European Parliament.”

Source : http://halalmedia.my/eu-move-to-label-halal-and-kosher-meat-rejected-for-now/#utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GlobalHalalMediaPortal+%28HalalMedia%29 - Dec 9, 2010