Petition · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Ban non-stun slaughter in the UK
Closed
109,018 signatures
What the petition asks
In modern society, we believe more consideration needs to be given to animal welfare and how livestock is treated and culled.
We believe non-stun slaughter is barbaric and doesn't fit in with our culture and modern-day values and should be banned, as some EU nations have done.
We believe non-stun slaughter is barbaric and doesn't fit in with our culture and modern-day values and should be banned, as some EU nations have done.
In a landmark case, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled that a ban on the ritual slaughter of animals without prior stunning does not violate the ECHR.
The Court considered that the protection of public morals, to which Article 9 of the Convention referred was not indifferent to the living environment of individuals covered by its protection and including animals.
The Court considered that the protection of public morals, to which Article 9 of the Convention referred was not indifferent to the living environment of individuals covered by its protection and including animals.
Government response · 10 January 2025
The Government would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter. However, we respect the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.
The Government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter and would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter, but it respects the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.
The ‘Demonstration of Life Protocol’, an industry-led initiative supported by the Government, provides assurance for Muslim consumers that stunning is compatible with halal slaughter requirements, while protecting the welfare of the animals involved. Therefore, a significant proportion of halal meat comes from animals that are stunned before slaughter.
Legislation sets out the main requirements to protect the welfare of animals at slaughter. There are additional rules that apply when animals are slaughtered without stunning to ensure that animals are spared avoidable pain, suffering, or distress during the slaughter process. Official Veterinarians of the Food Standards Agency are present in all approved slaughterhouses to monitor and enforce these animal welfare requirements.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The ‘Demonstration of Life Protocol’, an industry-led initiative supported by the Government, provides assurance for Muslim consumers that stunning is compatible with halal slaughter requirements, while protecting the welfare of the animals involved. Therefore, a significant proportion of halal meat comes from animals that are stunned before slaughter.
Legislation sets out the main requirements to protect the welfare of animals at slaughter. There are additional rules that apply when animals are slaughtered without stunning to ensure that animals are spared avoidable pain, suffering, or distress during the slaughter process. Official Veterinarians of the Food Standards Agency are present in all approved slaughterhouses to monitor and enforce these animal welfare requirements.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Debate in Parliament
MPs debated this petition on 9 June 2025.
Timeline
| 21 Nov 2024 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 8 Dec 2024 | Passed 10,000 signatures, requiring a government response |
| 10 Jan 2025 | Government responded |
| 4 May 2025 | Passed 100,000 signatures, qualifying for a parliamentary debate |
| 21 May 2025 | Closed to new signatures |
| 9 Jun 2025 | Debated in Parliament |
Key facts
Signatures
109,018
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened
21 Nov 2024
Closed
21 May 2025
Response
10 Jan 2025
Debated
9 Jun 2025
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 26 Jul 2026.