14.01.2013

As of January 1, 2013, Poland banned ritual slaughter of animals without prior stunning. The ban stems from the Polish Constitutional Court decision that the existing regulation regarding ritual slaughter were contrary to Animal Protection Act and Polish Constitution. The Ministry of Agriculture is in the process of seeking amendment to existing Polish law to permit ritual slaughter of animals. Because the Court decision had been announced in November 2012, industry had had time to build sufficient stocks prior to December 31 for servicing market requirements through the beginning of 2013 while new legislation to permit ritual slaughter would be pursued.