Australian Fatwa Council says CAS stunning not suitable for halal

CAS deems the animal dead before slaughter
calendar icon 12 May 2023
clock icon 2 minute read

Following a recent study, the Australian Fatwa Council has concluded that the practice of Controlled Atmospheric Stunning (CAS) stunning in its current form is not fit for Halal consumption under the Islamic laws and principles of Halal slaughter. The animal is deemed to be dead before the slaughter, according to a press release from the Australian National Imams Council

CAS of poultry has recently become a contentious topic. There is confusion on whether its application in the Halal slaughtering process is in-line with Islamic requirements for food consumption. 

Stunning is the process of rendering animals immobile or unconscious prior to their slaughter for food. Various stunning methods are used with the objective to allow the animals to bleed out after slaughter. In the last 10 years in Australia, the method of CAS stunning has become widely used.

Previously, there has been inadequate research on the application of CAS stunning to conclude its suitability in the Halal Slaughter process. The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) requested an assessment be performed on the pre-stunning of Poultry with the use of CAS stunning.

ANIC engaged with vets to conduct the relevant and necessary tests and assessments to present the findings to the Australian Fatwa Council.

Upon careful assessment and consideration of the report results, the absence of vital signs and ECG indications, the Australian Fatwa Council has concluded that the practice of CAS stunning in its current form is not fit for Halal consumption under the Islamic laws and principles of Halal slaughter. 

Therefore, this method cannot be accepted or certified as Halal for consumption. Any Halal certifications of CAS stunned facilities are invalid until an adequate assessment of the CAS stunned facility and its processes is conducted in line with the same scope inclusive of Vital Signs and ECG reports with expert interpretation, presented to the Australian Fatwa Council for assessment.

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