I PRODOTTI HALAL: NUOVE REALTÀ DI CONSUMO E SICUREZZA ALIMENTARE

Religious slaughter is related to the Jewish and Muslim religions, according to which the meat must be obtained from animals slaughtered according to religious rules, in order to be lawfully consumed by the faithful. In Italy religious slaughter is regulated by L. 623/85, DM. 11/06/80 and DL. 333/98, which establish that the stunning phase is prohibited. A Farm Animal Council report about methods of religious slaughter and animal welfare recommended to abrogate the exemptions related to these slaughters and identifi ed critical issues about animal welfare and the hygienic production of meat. The main problem of marketing halal products is linked to both a religious and health certifi cation. A greater understanding about the central nervous responses to anxiety and suffering during the slaughter to improve the methods of slaughter is needed.