An eight-week long consultation being launched by AHDB Beef & Lamb will assess whether a quality assurance scheme for halal meat will add value to the sector and boost supply chain transparency.
The proposed scheme will have separate categories for stunned, non-stunned and post-cut-stunned slaughter for sheep.
AHDB is now in the process of publishing the proposals for the scheme which will see on-pack labelling signposting whether the product has come through an assured route, to help customers choose from shelves, as well as to see the impact it has on the industry and assess whether there is support to push the scheme forward.
Awal Fuseini, halal sector manager for AHDB Beef & Lamb, commented: “It is our belief an assurance scheme for the halal sheep meat sector would add transparency to the supply chain and boost customer choice in the product they are buying, knowing which adhere to clear standards around safety, animal welfare and the Islamic guidelines on slaughter.
“It would help demonstrate high standards in the slaughter and further processing of halal sheep meat. The draft proposals have three different schemes which would ultimately be labelled on the product to allow Muslim consumers to buy assured product which fits with their own belief with regard to halal slaughter.
“This should not, though, happen without us gauging opinion from the sector and we would urge all those with a vested interest to get involved in the consultation.”
The proposals initially only cover sheep meat. The consultation is open until 30th August.
This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.
