Kosher slaughter ban challenged in citizen's bill

Photo: wikipedia

The action was coordinated by the National Council of Agricultural Chambers (KRIR), which argues that the ban has dealt a severe blow to Polish beef and poultry producers.

“The main recipients of out beef were Turkey and the Asian markets,” said KRIR chairman Wiktor Szmulewicz, in an interview with the Rzeczpospolita daily.

“The effect of the ban is that animals continue to undergo ritual slaughter, but in Lithuania and Slovakia,” he complained.

Slaughter of animals without prior stunning was made illegal from 1 January 2013. Animal rights activists had lobbied for the matter to be taken to Poland's Constitutional Court, which duly ruled that the practice was illegal.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk sort to reverse the ruling in July 2013, with his government supporting an amendment that would have allowed for the slaughter of animals without prior stunning, if carried out for religious reasons.

However, besides lack of support from opposition parties, Tusk's own Civic Platform party was divided over the issue, and a majority of 278 MPs voted against the amendment, with 178 voting for it.

To bring a citizen's' bill to parliament, at least 100,000 signatures must be collected. KRIR has submitted 130,000, and the signatures are currently being verified.

If the submission proves legitimate, the draft legislation must be brought before parliament within three months.

Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court is considering a complaint lodged by Poland's Union of Jewish Religious Communities (ZGWZ) in August 2013.

The union argues that the ban contradicts laws on the freedoms of religious minorities. (nh)