What We Believe
We believe that all animals should be effectively stunned before slaughter, ensuring they are unconscious and insensible to pain.
The Law in Northern Ireland
Under the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014, all animals must be stunned before slaughter unless the slaughter is carried out under specific religious exemptions. The law allows non-stun slaughter if it is performed in accordance with the religious rites of certain Muslim (halal) and Jewish (shechita) communities.
Currently, there is no evidence of illegal non-stun slaughter taking place in Northern Ireland.
Respect for Religious Communities
We recognise the importance of religious freedoms and the cultural significance of traditional slaughter practices.
Our position focuses solely on improving welfare outcomes for animals and encouraging dialogue between communities, faith leaders, and welfare professionals to find shared solutions.
The USPCA does not have any statutory powers to enforce any breaches in legislation and we depend on government agencies to fulfil their statutory responsibilities to ensure no animal suffers unnecessarily during the slaughter process.
If you have any concerns, please contact the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for Northern Ireland (DAERA), as it has a central role in approved slaughter and cutting establishments through the Veterinary Public Health Programme (VPHP) within Veterinary Service.
