BVA calls for end to non-stun slaughter across UK

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has written to politicians in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to back a vet-led campaign to end non-stun slaughter across the UK.

Since the launch of the BVA's UK-wide petition to end non-stun slaughter at the end of April 2014, more than 72,000 individuals have signed, nearing the target of 100,000 signatures needed to trigger a House of Commons debate.

As such, the organisation is seeking support from a number of high-profile politicians across the three nations in order to bring further attention to the campaign.

Currently, EU and UK legislation requires all animals to be stunned before slaughter to ensure they do not feel pain. However, an exemption in UK law allows animals to be slaughtered without stunning for certain religious communities.

Despite this, the BVA believes this law does not give due attention to animal welfare, while also pointing out that almost 90 percent of Halal slaughter in the UK is already pre-stunned.

Robin Hargreaves, president of the BVA, said in the letter: "We have always made it very clear that we are not concerned with the practising of religious belief, but with the throat cutting of animals that have not been rendered insensible to pain."