CAS (Controlled Atmospheric Stunning) of Poultry has recently become a contentious topic. There is confusion on whether its application in the Halal slaughtering process is in-line with Islamic requirements for food consumption.

Stunning is the process of rendering animals immobile or unconscious prior to their slaughter for food. Various stunning methods are used with the objective to allow the animals to bleed out after slaughter. In the last 10 years in Australia, the method of CAS stunning has become widely used.

Previously, there has been inadequate research on the application of CAS stunning to conclude its suitability in the Halal Slaughter process.

Allah (SWT) says: “Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat (Maytah), blood, the flesh of swine…..” (Surah al-Ma’idah, V: 53)

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “Two types of dead meat and two types of blood have been made lawful for our consumption: The two dead types of meat are: fish and locust, and the two types of blood are: liver and spleen.” (Sunan Abu Dawud, Musnad Ahmad and Sunan Ibn Majah).

It is clearly stated in the Quran and the Hadith that a Dead Animal (Maytah) is Haram to consume.

The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) requested an assessment to be performed on the pre-stunning of Poultry with the use of CAS stunning.

ANIC has been inundated with requests to update the community and food businesses on the results and ruling on this matter. Unfortunately, ANIC was delayed from conducting the report in 2021 due to the COVID lockdowns and the resistance of some CAS stunned facilities to engage and this report was issued after further investigation on the matter and exploring other reports and studies that contributed to further delays and limited options at this moment.

ANIC engaged with vets to conduct the relevant and necessary tests and assessments to present the findings to the Australian Fatwa Council.

Upon careful assessment and consideration of the report results, the absence of VITAL signs and ECG indications, the Australian Fatwa Council has concluded that the practice of CAS stunning, in its current form, is NOT fit for Halal consumption under the Islamic laws and principles of Halal slaughter. The animal is deemed to be dead before the slaughter.

Therefore, this method cannot be accepted or certified as Halal for consumption. Any Halal certifications of CAS stunned facilities are invalid until an adequate assessment of the CAS stunned facility and its processes is conducted in line with the same scope inclusive of Vital Signs and ECG reports with expert interpretation, presented to the Australian Fatwa Council for assessment.

View Full Report: https://www.anic.org.au/CAS-STUNNING-POULTRY-REPORT