WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland's prime minister says his government has drafted new regulations that would reduce the suffering of animals during ritual slaughter for the needs of religious groups, including Jews and Muslims.
Poland is covered by European Union laws allowing for ritual slaughter, but the country's own regulations say an animal must be stunned before it can have its throat slit and bleed to death.
Donald Tusk said Tuesday his government wants to reconcile these approaches and ban the most drastic slaughter methods.
Ritual slaughter of animals is an important export earner for Poland, with markets in Israel and Muslim countries. It also offers thousands of jobs.
Last year, on a motion from animal rights groups, a special court said that slaughter without prior stunning is against Poland's law. Religious minorities protested.