Can There Be a Shortage Of Non-Stun Meat in The Middle East?
Polish lawmakers’ drafts bill to ban non-stun slaughter. Shocking isn’t it? Do we understand the affects this could have on Muslims worldwide? Not entirely sure? Let us take a look.
Only 0.1% of Poland’s population are Muslims (with Poland’s population reaching 38 million) but did you know that Poland is one of the largest exports of meat to the Middle East?
“Middle Eastern markets, including Saudi Arabia and Iran, are particularly important and prospective for our domestic poultry meat producers. In the future, these markets’ potential should be further used by Polish exporters. Otherwise, someone will take our place.” Said Lukasz Dominiak, general director of the Warsaw –based National Poultry Council – Chamber of Commerce (KRD-IG).
If the ban is introduced, data from the Polish Chamber of Poultry Meat and Feed Producers (KIPDiP) have suggested that Poland can lose access to a number of major markets in the Middle East. How else will we then enjoy the chicken and rice on a hot sandy beach in the Middle East?!
Currently, Saudi Arabia imports 850,000 tonnes of poultry per year, Iraq with a range of approximately 700,000 tonnes annually and the UAE, which imports 340,000 tonnes each year.
Beef exports could also decrease. Jacek Zarzecki, president of Polish Association of Beef Cattle Breeders and Producers said “About 80% of our (beef meat) production is intended for foreign markets. We are also a major player on a number of markets where there is a demand for halal and kosher beef meat and to which as much as 30% of our production already goes. Prices will fall, and we will lose the Arab markets where we have been struggling to establish ourselves over the past few years.”
The draft bill to ban non-stun slaughter introduced by MPs from Poland ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has been protested by a number of meat industry associations. Furthermore, if the bill is passed, Muslims can face the difficulty of finding genuine non-stunned meat and poultry whilst on their travels.
As Muslims, it is imperative that we are aware of what we consume in order to project our acts of worship. It is also important to support the Halal cause so that we as Muslims can benefit from eating genuine Halal products.
How would you feel if eating Halal products was taken away from you?
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HMC is the UK’s largest Halal certifying body, employing over 220 people and certifying over 950 retail shops. It is a registered charity and also a not for profit organisation. It is overseen by a voluntary body, the National Executive Committee that consists of mainly scholars.
