During the Islamic Eid al-Adha festival, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is also keeping a close watch on slaughtering this year. In every slaughterhouse, NVWA veterinarians are present to oversee the slaughter process and intervene if rules are not followed. Outside the slaughterhouses, the NVWA and police conduct extra checks to ensure that everyone adheres to the rules for animal welfare, animal health, and food safety.
Slaughtering in Recognized Slaughterhouses
The Eid al-Adha festival takes place in 2025 from Friday, June 6 to Sunday, June 9. 32 slaughterhouses have registered to slaughter animals during Eid al-Adha. This includes both stunned and non-stunned slaughtering of primarily sheep, but also goats and cattle. Increasingly, animals are stunned before being killed during Eid al-Adha. In 2024, 64% of the animals were stunned before slaughter; in 2022, this was still 49%. Non-stunned slaughtering is only permitted in the Netherlands under strict conditions in accordance with the religious prescriptions of Islam and Judaism and may only occur in recognized slaughterhouses. In every slaughterhouse, NVWA veterinarians are present to oversee the killing process and intervene if rules are not followed.
Strict Approach to Illegal Slaughter
The NVWA and police are particularly alert to illegal slaughtering outside recognized slaughterhouses during this period. Offenders face severe penalties: the fine for illegal non-stunned slaughtering can reach up to €103,000. Additionally, offenders risk a prison sentence of up to six years.
If you see something suspicious, such as a sheep in an unusual location or possibly stolen grazing animals, please report this, if desired anonymously, to the NVWA via 0900 - 0388 or through the website.
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