CACHER... OU HALAL ?

Did New Zealand ban kosher slaughter fearing trade losses with Muslim nations?

Posted on December 8, 2010
by creepingsharia

The U.K. released the Lockerbie bomber fearing trade losses from Libya, now this. via NZ Kosher ban: trade interests? | Australian Food News.

The effective banning of kosher slaughter, known as shechita, in New Zealand, has taken a new turn, with the New Zealand Herald reporting that Agriculture Minister David Carter, the architect of the ban, broke the rules governing his portfolio by considering trade implications when making the original decision.

New Zealand newspaper, the Herald on Sunday, obtained a series of documents suggesting trade interests and a possible conflict of interest may have had a bearing on the decision, which were examined in a High Court judgement on whether or not to make the Minister available for cross-examination when the case comes to trial.

Carter owns shares in one of New Zealand’s largest meat processors, Silver Fern Farms, and the Herald reports that the email correspondence it obtained suggests that he met with Silver Fern chairman Eoin Garden and chief executive Keith Cooper in March.

In the meeting, according to an email from Ministerial private secretary Natalie Nesbitt, the two executives indicated that trade with Muslim countries might suffer if it emerged kosher meat was allowed to be produced in New Zealand, while restrictions were placed on halal slaughter.

The Herald quotes Nesbitt:

“Silverfern (sic) Farms CEO and chairman raised their opposition to an exemption being provided for shechita (kosher) slaughter … with the minister this afternoon, among other matters.”

She said concerns from Garden and Cooper included “trade risks (particularly to halal markets)” if a Jewish religious form of slaughter was allowed to continue in New Zealand.

The New Zealand Muslim community did not raise any objections to the new Code, having used a ‘pre-cut reversible stun’ for the production of its Halal meats.

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