Key Points
- The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) has released a report into poultry slaughtering practices.
- The report declared controlled atmospheric stunning (CAS) method is not halal.
- There is confusion in the community after another peak body questioned the validity of the report.
For Muslims around the world, halal certification is an important element in many aspects of life, particularly when it comes to food.
Now, there is confusion in the local community, with two major councils expressing opposing views over Australia's poultry production and slaughtering processes.
So what are the laws for halal certification, is Australian chicken halal, and why is this being debated?
What does halal mean?
The term halal means something is permissible, while if something is haram, it is forbidden.
Halal can refer to many aspects of life covered by the teachings of Islam, but is commonly associated with food.
In the context of meat and poultry, halal refers to whether or not animals can be eaten by Muslims.
Animals must be free from illness and disease, must be slaughtered humanely with a sharp tool, and there are strict guidelines around animals not dying before slaughter.
Certain animals, such as pigs, are haram.
In order for meat to be considered halal, there must be a prayer spoken at the start of slaughtering, it must be supervised by a person of Muslim faith, and the facility must be accredited.
There are a number of Islamic groups - such as the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) and Halal Certification Authority - that issue certification in Australia, with suppliers and vendors paying a fee to become halal-certified.
Is chicken halal in Australia?
The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) has released a report declaring the method of controlled atmospheric stunning (CAS), where poultry are gassed until they are unconscious, is not fit for halal consumption under Islamic laws and principles of halal slaughter.
As a result, the Australian Fatwa Council has given a verdict that this is impermissible for consumption according to halal standards.
Ibrahim Dadoun, executive member of ANIC, told SBS News the report was commissioned following requests from the community and had taken over two years to complete.
"ANIC has been presented with a report produced by medical experts in the field - veterinarians, cardiologists, anaesthetists - who have come out and said these animals are clinically dead," he said.
Halal refers to food that is permissible to eat under Islamic law. Source: SBS News / Mahnaz Angury
Mr Dadoun said the findings would impact "a small number" of facilities that process a large percentage of Australian poultry.
According to the report, the lack of signs of life was indicated by the absence of reflexes, heartbeats, pulse, breathing activity, chest movement, and wing flapping.
But AFIC, another peak body and one of Australia's halal certifiers, raised concerns about the report, and highlighted the fact that ANIC had only been able to visit one facility in their investigation.
AFIC spokesperson Mohammed Tran said he did not think this was sufficient cause to issue a fatwa, which is a type of ruling issued by an authority on a point of Islamic law.
"(ANIC) tested something quite specific, yet their outcome and recommendation was quite broad," he said.
"We've received a lot of phone calls over the last week ... it has caused a lot of confusion and stress, people are not sure what they should do now.
"This is a matter that is not as clear cut as some people would like to believe."
Mr Dadoun said ANIC had attempted to visit other facilities and conduct testing, but sites had not granted access for testing.
He said the report was in line with halal standards around the world, and said ANIC would be "more than happy" to do further testing if other facilities would allow them.
What is stunning and why is it contentious?
Stunning is the process of making animals immobile or unconscious before they are slaughtered for food, and is required for poultry under Australian law.
There are several methods of stunning, with the CAS process involving poultry being exposed to a variety of gas mixtures contained in a chamber, which leads to a gradual loss of consciousness.
Mr Dadoun says while the commonly used CAS method is not halal, water-based stunning (where poultry is passed through a water bath containing an electric current) is considered permissible in Australia as it does not kill the bird.
"Ideally, the gold standard with halal slaughter is that there is no stunning pre-slaughter," he said.
"However in the context of living here in Australia, scholars have agreed that water-based stunning is permissible because it is reversible."
'Confusing and frustrating'
For some Australian Muslims, the report and ensuing debate has been a source of frustration and confusion.
Aqeel Shah runs an online community group, Halal Food in Australia, and says the disagreement is the latest in a series of political disputes between ANIC and AFIC, with both striving to be the peak Muslim body.
"People are really confused ... but this is more like a political issue," he said.
The Australian National Imams Council (ANIC) has released a report examining slaughtering practices in Australia. Source: SBS News
Mr Shah said it was important for councils and peak bodies to lead their communities responsibly.
"Both organisations should act responsibly because the community relies on them," he said.
"If they say something is not halal, we don't eat it, but do not play with the community for your own politics."
