Cyprus: Animal Party says kosher meat slaughter a concession to religion, not exporting

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Cyprus: Animal Party says kosher meat slaughter a concession to religion, not exporting

14 April 2020
News
The Animal Party on Friday said it was against the slaughter of animals without anaesthesia while also recalling that the EU allows for such a thing to happen only to serve the needs of religious communities in each member state and not for meat exports.

A law amendment allowing the slaughter of goats and sheep according to Jewish dietary laws for meat exports to Israel has been tabled to parliament to vote.

Animal breeders argue that the introduction of kosher slaughter was necessary for their survival since they have been hit hard from the suspension of the operations of hotels and restaurants but also by the cancellation of big Easter celebrations where lamb and goat meat is usually consumed.

The head of the House agriculture committee, AKEL MP Andros Kafkalias, said that they would discuss the bill as an urgent matter so that it could be sent to the House plenum to vote in its next session.

According to the note MPs received along with the bill, the existing law in Cyprus forbids the slaughter of animals without anaesthesia. The law on animal protection and welfare must be amended to allow animal slaughters according to the customs of some religions such as Judaism.