Religious Slaughtering, a Stunning Matter: Centraal Israëlitisch Consistorie van België and Others

Abstract

(Series Information) European Papers - A Journal on Law and Integration, 2021 6(1), 111-119 | European Forum Insight of 22 April 2021 | (Table of Contents) I. Introduction. - II. Background and facts. - III. Judgment. - IV. Comment. - IV.1. Religious slaughter, animal welfare and strict regulation. - VI.2. A secular Court and the judgment of religious rites. - V. Final remarks. | (Abstract) In Centraal Israëlitisch Consistorie van België and Others (case C-336/19 ECLI:EU:C:2020:1031) the Court of Justice held that EU Member States are allowed to require, in the context of ritual slaughter, a reversible stunning procedure which cannot result in the animal's death. According to the Court, Regulation 1099/2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing permits strict animal welfare legislation in relation to religious slaughtering. While the judgement is a welcomed step toward high animal welfare standards in the EU, in certain aspects the Court's argumentation does not seem well thought out.

Keywords

• animal welfare
• art. 13
• religious rites
• halal
• animal protection
• evolving societal context of fundamental rights