Schlachtung ohne Betäubung: Ausnahmegenehmigung beantragen

In Germany, the slaughter of an animal is generally only permitted with suitable stunning. Exceptions to ensure religious freedom are possible, but are subject to approval.

In Germany, warm-blooded animals may only be slaughtered after they have been anaesthetized.
Stunning may be omitted if mandatory regulations of a religious community make this necessary and an exemption has been granted in advance by the competent authority for slaughter without stunning according to ritual rules (slaughtering).
During slaughter, a knife is used to make a cut across the animal's carotid artery, gullet and windpipe when the animal is not stunned. The animal must bleed out completely.

In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, an application must be submitted in writing to the Ministry for Climate Protection, Agriculture, Rural Areas and the Environment of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. There is no prescribed format template for this.

The application must contain the following information:

• Name and address of the applicant
• Affiliation to a religious community to be specifically named and its number of members
• Explanation of the compelling reason for carrying out the ritual slaughter
• Description of the religiously prescribed procedure for ritual slaughter
• Name and address and details of the expertise of the person carrying out the ritual slaughter
• Type and number of animals to be ritually slaughtered
• Date and time of the intended ritual slaughter
• Details of the group of people for whom the slaughter is to be carried out (e.g. religious communities, individuals)
• Description of the religious regulations on slaughtering
• Place of ritual slaughter
• Information on how animal welfare regulations are complied with during the slaughter process
• Equipment used for ritual slaughter
• Description of the safeguarding of distribution channels for meat from ritually slaughtered animals

The competent authority may only grant a derogation for slaughter without stunning (slaughter) or under electrical short-term stunning to the extent that it is necessary in order to

• to meet the needs of members of certain religious communities within the scope of this Act for whom mandatory provisions of their religious community prescribe this method of slaughter, or
• to enable the consumption of meat that would be prohibited for animals slaughtered in any other way.

The authority must also check whether it is ensured that ritual slaughter is only practiced to the extent necessary to provide for the members of the religious community.

Furthermore, it must be checked whether the applicant is suitable, i.e. in particular reliable, and whether all protective measures have been taken with regard to the rooms, facilities, other aids and supervisory staff used in order to spare the animals avoidable pain and suffering.

Costs from EUR 251.80 are incurred for the exemption permit depending on the time required (in accordance with section 1.6.1 of the Veterinary Administration Costs Ordinance).

You can apply in writing to the competent authority for an exemption permit for slaughter without stunning (slaughter) or under electrical short-term stunning.

• You submit an informal application and enclose the necessary documents.
• The competent authority will check all documents received for completeness and, if necessary, contact you with a request for further documents.
• Once all the required documents have been received, the competent authority will make a decision and inform you in writing in the form of a decision.
• If necessary, you can appeal against this decision to the administrative court responsible for you.
• Once the decision has become final, the competent veterinary and food inspection authority will be informed and commissioned to carry out an on-site inspection.

The processing time depends on the amount of testing required and usually takes place within 14 days.

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• In Germany, the slaughter of an animal is generally only permitted with suitable stunning.
• However, in order to guarantee religious freedom in accordance with Article 4 of the Basic Law, an exemption may be granted by the competent authority on request under special circumstances, which allows slaughter without prior stunning or with short-term electrical stunning of the animal.

Ministry for Climate Protection, Agriculture, Rural Areas and the Environment M-V
Department 500, Animal Welfare
Telephone no.: +49 385 588-6500
E-mail: tierschutz@lm.mv-regierung.de

Ministry for Climate Protection, Agriculture, Rural Areas and the Environment M-V

Forms available: No
Written form required: Yes
Informal application possible: Yes
Personal appearance necessary: No
Online services available: No