Petition on non-stunned meat passes critical milestone
26th January 2026
A petition by Compassion in World Farming is calling for meat to be clearly labelled to indicate whether or not the animal was stunned before slaughter.
The petition has surpassed 100,000 signatures, which means the issue will be debated in parliament.
Whilst it is a legal requirement to stun animals before slaughter, there is an exemption for Jewish and Muslim communities – all Shechita slaughter (for kosher) and 12% of halal slaughter is done without pre-stunning. Animals slaughtered for halal meat can be stunned using an electrical method that produces reversible narcosis.
CIWF wants to see clear labelling across the food chain, including shops, supermarkets, suppliers, fast food and restaurants – as well as schools.
‘We think no one should be forced to consume food which doesn’t meet their ethical and religious choices, they should have the right to choose without prejudice,’ CIWF says.
Government response
The government responded to the petition after 10,000 signatures, saying:
‘The government encourages the highest standards of animal welfare at slaughter and would prefer all animals to be stunned before slaughter, but the government respects the rights of Jews and Muslims to eat meat prepared in accordance with their religious beliefs.’
READ MORE: Industry reacts to claims about halal meat in UK supermarkets
The statement went on: ‘Whilst currently there are no regulations that require the labelling of meat from animals slaughtered without stunning, where any information of this nature is provided it must be accurate and must not be misleading to the consumer.
‘Additionally, major retailers have sourcing policies requiring that fresh meat comes from animals that have been stunned before slaughter.
‘They may operate limited concessions for halal or kosher food that will be clearly labelled. Some farm assurance schemes, such as Red Tractor and RSPCA Assured, require stunning before slaughter.’
Rising figures
Food Standards Agency figures show non-stun slaughter for halal is rising – accounting for 29% of sheep slaughtered in the 2024 survey compared to 22% in 2022.
A separate petition last year calling for a ban on non-stun slaughter also achieved more than 100,000 signatures, triggering a debate in parliament.
Read more livestock news.
