Excerpt:
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has written to party leaders in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as part of its campaign to end non-stun slaughter.
Robin Hargreaves, president of the BVA has written to the National Assembly in Wales, Stormont, and the Scottish Parliament, emphasising the alleged animal welfare issues involved in non-stun slaughter.
The Association launched its campaign at the of April this year, and has so far gained 72,000 signatures, 28,000 short of the target needed for a petition to be debated in the House of Commons.
UK and European legislation requires all animals to be stunned prior to slaughter, however an exemption on religious ground allows for animals to be slaughtered without stunning if the meat is to be consumed by certain communities - Dhabihah slaughter for Halal food and Shechita slaughter for Kosher food.