Jewish organizations in Canada are taking legal action against the federal government over new regulations they fear could spell the demise of kosher animal production in the country. Filed in the Federal Court, the lawsuit aims to overturn recent Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) rules mandating cognitive tests for non-stunned animals to ensure irreversible unconsciousness before processing.
The regulations, introduced last summer, mandate stringent measures that Jewish groups argue infringe upon the rights of Canadian Jews to practice their faith, as protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Concerns center around the potential impact on kosher slaughter practices, which they contend are already humane.
According to Richard Rabkin of the Kashruth Council of Canada (COR), the new requirements have significantly slowed down kosher slaughter processes, rendering them economically unviable for some operations. While non-kosher abattoirs typically render cattle unconscious with a bolt gun blow before slaughter, kosher slaughter, or shechita, involves trained shochetim using razor-sharp knives for a swift, uninterrupted throat cut, believed to render the animal immediately unconscious.
The lawsuit argues that shechita results in near-instantaneous unconsciousness due to massive bleeding and rapid arterial pressure drop. Rabbi Saul Emanuel, director of the MK Kosher Certification Agency, asserts that stunning animals prior to slaughter violates Jewish dietary laws, which mandate that animals be alive, healthy, and alert before slaughter.
While CFIA permits licensed abattoirs to slaughter non-stunned animals, the new rules impose cognitive tests, including checks for arhythmic breathing and eye reflexes. The lawsuit alleges that stunning processes, not subjected to similar scrutiny, can result in some animals surviving and suffering during skinning.
The plaintiffs, including The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), MK, and COR, maintain that kosher slaughter is humane, citing scientific studies to support their claim. They accuse CFIA of disregarding scientific evidence and conducting flawed reviews.
The lawsuit asserts that the new regulations are crippling Canada’s struggling kosher meat industry, with plant closures reducing kosher-capable processing plants and slashing beef yields. Remaining producers warn of further cutbacks or cessation of kosher slaughter if the situation persists.
In response, CFIA emphasizes its oversight of ritual animal slaughter to ensure animal welfare regulations. Jewish and kosher groups express willingness to collaborate with CFIA but stress the urgent need for resolution to safeguard the viability of Canada’s domestic kosher meat production.
The legal challenge seeks to invalidate the new rules, underscoring the fundamental importance of domestic kosher meat for the Canadian Jewish community.