FREEDOM OF RELIGION VERSUS ANIMAL WELFARE The Compatibility of the Flemish Ban on Unstunned Slaughter with Freedom of Religion Cheryl-Lynn van de Wiel - 2007475 Tilburg University - European and International Law Supervisor: J.S.V. Dubrulle Word count: 19.607 Table of content TABLE OF CONTENT ........................................................................................................... 2 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................................. 4 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................... 10 1.1 INTERPRETATION SLAUGHTER AND STUNNING REQUIREMENTS ................................................. 11 1.1.1 Religious framework applicable to Jewish and Islamic slaughter ....................................... 11 1.1.1.1 Kosher slaughter ........................................................................................................................... 11 1.1.1.2 Halal slaughter .............................................................................................................................. 16 1.1.2 Legal framework applicable to stunned slaughter in Belgium ............................................ 20 1.1.2.1 European law ................................................................................................................................ 20 1.1.2.1.1 Primary legislation .................................................................................................................................. 20 1.1.2.1.2 Secondary legislation .............................................................................................................................. 22 1.1.2.2 Federal law ................................................................................................................................... 26 1.1.2.3 Regional law ................................................................................................................................. 27 1.1.3 Scientific perspective on unstunned versus stunned slaughter ............................................ 28 1.1.3.1 Slaughter method .......................................................................................................................... 28 1.1.3.2 Stunning ........................................................................................................................................ 29 1.1.3.3 Animal welfare during stunned slaughter versus unstunned slaughter ........................................ 32 1.2 INTERPRETATION FREEDOM OF RELIGION .................................................................................... 33 1.2.1 International law .................................................................................................................. 33 1.2.1.1 The European Convention on Human Rights ............................................................................... 33 1.2.2 European law ....................................................................................................................... 40 1.2.2.1 The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union ........................................................ 40 1.3 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................ 43 CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................... 46 2.1 PARLIAMENTARY PREPARATIONS FOR THE FLEMISH BAN OF UNSTUNNED SLAUGHTER ............ 46 2.2 BAN ON UNSTUNNED SLAUGHTER ............................................................................................... 46 2.2.1 Substantive obligations ........................................................................................................ 46 2.2.2 Aftermath .............................................................................................................................. 52 2.3 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................ 53 CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................... 55 3.1 RESEARCH ON THE COMPATIBILITY OF THE BAN ON UNSTUNNED SLAUGHTER .......................... 55 3.1.1 The European Convention on Human Rights and the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union ............................................................................................................................ 55 3.2 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................ 64 CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................................. 67 BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................. 69 LEGISLATION ..................................................................................................................................... 69 Austria ........................................................................................................................................... 69 Belgium ......................................................................................................................................... 69 Denmark ........................................................................................................................................ 71 Estonia ........................................................................................................................................... 71 European Union ............................................................................................................................ 71 Finland .......................................................................................................................................... 72 Germany ........................................................................................................................................ 72 Iceland ........................................................................................................................................... 72 Norwegian ..................................................................................................................................... 73 Sweden ........................................................................................................................................... 73 Switzerland .................................................................................................................................... 73 2 CASE-LAW .......................................................................................................................................... 73 Constitutional Court ...................................................................................................................... 73 Council of State ............................................................................................................................. 74 European Court of Human Rights ................................................................................................. 74 European Court of Justice ............................................................................................................ 75 LITERATURE ....................................................................................................................................... 75 Books ............................................................................................................................................. 75 Journal articles ............................................................................................................................. 77 Reports .......................................................................................................................................... 79 News articles and websites ............................................................................................................ 80 Notes and papers ........................................................................................................................... 82 3 List of abbreviations ACIP Israelite Consistory of Paris AG Advocate-General ECHR European Convention on Human Rights ECJ European Court of Justice ECtHR European Court of Human Rights EESC European Economic and Social Committee EFSA European Food Safety Authority EU Charter Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union FVE Federation of European Veterinarians GAIA Global Action in the Interest of Animals NGO Non-Governmental Organisation TFEU Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union UDHR Universal Declaration on Human Rights 4 Introduction Religious freedom is a vast part of our current society, with its traditions that are being passed down to future generations. One of these traditions is religious slaughter, as performed by Jews and Muslims. Kosher and halal slaughter methods were originally developed to spare the animal unnecessary pain1 through the use of the best available knowledge and through the application of the best available technology.2 Islamic and Jewish