Global News - December 2007

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China drafting standards for 'more humane' animal slaughter

Tue 18 December 2007 13:00 UK — Asia,Farm Animals

Chinese government officials have launched a new proposal calling for the introduction of standards for more humane slaughter of livestock animals in the Asian country.

At the same time as announcing the draft document, a project was launched in the country's Henan Province to promote humane methods of animal slaughter prior to rolling out the scheme nationwide, Xinhua reported.

As part of the plan, the government announced that it aims to emphasise consideration for animals' feelings throughout the slaughter process by using methods such as herding pigs with plastic prods and not electrical ones.

Mi Yali, an expert in the sector, told the website: "A basic requirement of the slaughter process is to stun the animal before ending its life. This is to reduce the degree of suffering. Animals, like human beings, can also get extremely scared."

An unnamed Ministry of Commerce official added: "It will take time to improve slaughter methods around the whole country. But China will continuously make efforts to advocate humane methods of livestock slaughter to the whole society."

According to China Daily, in 2006 China produced more than 80 million tones of meat, including 52 per cent of the world's total pork production.

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