Broughs Butchers support the work of the Humane Slaughter Association www.hsa.org.uk and the work of Compassion in World Farming www.ciwf.org.uk

The well being of animals during transportation or while confined in stock-yards and lairages within the partner countries of the EEC is regulated.

It is a legal requirement and incumbent upon all persons involved in the act of slaughter to ensure that the event does not cause unnecessary distress or suffering to an animal at any stage of the procedure.

Labelling

In partner countries of the EEC all meat produced for human consumption must be slaughtered and cut in EEC Licensed premises and carried out by persons trained and Licensed to slaughter.

There is currently no legal requirement to include information about the slaughter technique (Humane or Religious) used to dispatch an animal.

We support the Humane Slaughter Society's lobby to vary current Food Labelling Regulations so that they include a requirement to reference the slaughter technique used in the dispatch of the animal i.e. Humane or Religious.

Procurement

Our principal suppliers slaughter 'Humanely'. Where we are able to purchase a complete carcass from those suppliers, we are able to establish that the humane slaughter technique was applied to the animal. Where we procure additional cuts of meat from other suppliers (especially poultry) the slaughter technique is almost impossible to establish and cannot be relied upon.

Hindquarters of carcasses that have been religiously slaughtered for the Jewish 'Kosher' trade are not generally consumed by members of that faith. Consequently, the surplus 'Kosher' hindquarter cuts have traditionally been pitched or offered for sale into the general meat market.

Carcasses that are religiously 'Halal' slaughtered for consumption by persons of the Muslim faith, and found to be surplus to the demand of that faith, are then offered for sale to the wider meat markets.

Rustling

Sheep and cattle are prime targets for Rustlers, the animals disappear into the night and are slaughtered in premises unfit for purpose by gangs of thieves - a growing rural crime. Some animals are slaughtered in the field; theirs is possibly the worst fate, others are removed to premises operated by unscrupulous criminals for immediate dispatch. The rustled meat inevitably enters the food chain, but tracing the origin is almost impossible. Cheap meat offered by a man in a van at a 'boot sale' – is that suspicious??

www.channel4.com/news/sheep-rustling-surge-blamed-on-organised-gangs

Web References

A reference to the slaughter method used for each product we offer will be added to the product description – provided the information can be properly validated. A slaughter technique will be referred to as either Humane or Religious. Where the slaughter procedure cannot be validated, no reference will be displayed.