Bid to end suffering of chickens blocked after Muslims complain that it would undermine their rights to slaughter birds according to Islamic rituals

• Campaigners have threatened to report ministers to European Commission for not implementing the EU-wide rules

• Research that suggests that many birds are still conscious and suffer pain when they are slaughtered

" New laws aimed at reducing the suffering of millions of chickens in abattoirs have been put on hold by the Government after Muslims complained they would undermine their rights to slaughter the birds according to Islamic rituals. "

" To the dismay of animal welfare groups, the laws were unexpectedly delayed just days before they were due to be implemented last month. "

" Senior vets and campaigners said that the delay was ‘outrageous’ and some have now threatened to report ministers to the European Commission for failing to implement the EU-wide rules "

" They would have forced many abattoirs to use a more powerful electric shock than they do now to stun chickens before they are killed. "

" The move follows research that suggests that many birds are still conscious and suffer pain when they are slaughtered, but that higher levels of shock would guarantee they were insensible. "

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Bid to end suffering of chickens blocked after Muslims complain that it would undermine their rights to slaughter birds according to Islamic rituals

By JONATHAN PETRE FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

Mail Online

PUBLISHED: 8 June 2014 

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