Petition · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

End slaughter of animals without prior stunning in the UK

Open for signatures 369 signatures

What the petition asks

We call on the UK Government to require that all animals are rendered unconscious before slaughter, without exception.
We urge the Government to amend animal welfare legislation so that all animals slaughtered for food in the UK must be rendered unconscious before bleeding begins, without exemption. Scientific and veterinary evidence (supported by the RSPCA) shows that slaughter without prior stunning can cause avoidable pain and distress, and that allowing animals to remain conscious during slaughter is incompatible with modern animal welfare standards.

Timeline

26 Mar 2026 Petition opened for signatures

Key facts

Signatures 369
Status Open for signatures
Department Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened 26 Mar 2026

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 26 Jul 2026.