Welfare concerns over Saudi trade deal
In the UK and Europe, all animals must be stunned before slaughter but a derogation exists for animals that are killed for religious purposes.
A new trade deal with Saudi Arabia is prompting animal welfare concerns, with vets urging the government to ensure that exported lamb is stunned before slaughter.
The deal - which is estimated to be worth £25 million over the next five years - marks the end of a 20-year ban on exporting British lamb after the BSE crisis.
When the deal was announced in February, it was initially unclear whether all animals slaughtered in the UK for the Saudi market would be stunned first. However, a recent Vet Record article suggests that, under current arrangements, none of the animals will be stunned.
According to the article, guidance issued for official veterinarians and exporters specifies that export paperwork must be accompanied by a certificate from a UK halal food accreditation scheme, which is approved by the Gulf Corporation Council.
Currently, Vet Record says the only such scheme is the Halal Monitoring Committee, which forbids all stunning.
BVA urged Defra to clarify the details of the deal, which UK halal certification bodies will be involved and whether the meat will come from stun or non-stun sources.
In the UK and Europe, all animals must be stunned before slaughter but a derogation exists for animals that are killed for religious purposes. However, BVA said it strongly believes this should apply only to meet the needs of the local community.
Similarly, in Germany, produce from non-stun slaughter cannot be legally exported.
BVA president John Fishwick, said: “We welcome new trade deals that demonstrate the quality of UK agriculture, but we absolutely must not compromise on animal welfare. Animals slaughtered without stunning suffer unnecessary pain at the time of death.
“If non-stun slaughter is permitted under the derogation in the UK it should only be available for local communities and not for export.
“We have raised these issues directly with the Secretary of State, Michael Gove, and have asked for clarity on whether or not meat for export is stunned in accordance with the UK’s high animal welfare legislation.
“BVA is calling for an end to all non-stun slaughter, but while it is still permitted we would like to see new laws to ban export of non-stun meat such as those in Germany.”
Responding to media reports on the deal, a Defra spokesperson said: “It is not true to suggest the agreement to lift the 20-year ban on lamb exports to Saudi Arabia was a move to increase sales of non-stun meat.
“All slaughter, whether stun or non-stun, must comply with strict rules on animal welfare and we have been clear these standards will not be watered down as we leave the EU.
“As there are currently no restrictions on exporting non-stun meat, it is wrong to suggest this agreement can in any way make it ‘easier’ to sell non-stun meat abroad.”
Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.
