the UK's Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affaris (Defra), which would have made it necessary for UK-based abattoirs to increase currents for stunning chickens, has been revoked at the last moment. Much to the delight of halal slaughterers, Defra blocked the new law being passed, because it is a "complicated issue", which requires "further consideration".The Halal Authority Board (HAB) and the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) have been fighting against the regulation, as the strengthening in stun-currents would not only be expensive for suppliers, but it has the potential to kill birds, rendering them unacceptable for halal consumption.
A spokesperson from HAB was dissatisfied with Defra's attempts to bring in the regulation in the first place:
"Muslims will not accept this new stunning-form. Defra has no experience of working in slaughterhouses, and there was no discussion or conversation, they just went ahead. Unless they work with the Muslim community how can we get anywhere? They are totally ignoring the halal market, they only listen when you take them to court."
The policy director at AIMS, Norman Bagley, was equally critical:
"Why Defra got themselves into this mess in the first place is beyond comprehension and as far as we are concerned well documented. Quite simply, whoever gave the veterinary advice should be held to account as the whole thing was a farce once defending the indefensible took over from common sense and dogma."
