Both Halal and Kosher foods will have to be labelled under new European Union rules after many animal welfare organisations objected to the method of slaughter, which is conducted without stunning the animal prior to the slaughter. While groups such as the RSPCA claim the practice should be outlawed, they also believe the meat often ends up being sold without prior warning, meaning that other objectors won't know if they are buying halal or not.
The motion has passed its initial vote, however the EU member states must still approve the legislation before it is formally adopted. Once the law comes into practice though, food businesses will have three years to adapt to the rules, with smaller operators having up to five years to comply.
Religious slaughter is already banned in Switzerland, Sweden, Norway and Iceland, whereas in the UK it is estimated that over 100 million animals are slaughtered using the halal method in the UK each year. Religious groups continue to claim that the method is painless and thus should be exempt from the rulings, and it seems that the fight will continue for some time to come.