Halal and kosher slaughter banned

The Dutch parliament has passed a Bill banning the slaughter of livestock without stunning it first, removing an exemption that has allowed Jews and Muslims to butcher animals according to their centuries-old dietary rules.

If enacted and enforced, religious groups say observant Jews and Muslims would have to import meat, stop eating it, or leave the Netherlands.

In May this year, New Zealand became the first country to outlaw procedures that make meat kosher for Jews or halal for Muslims.