Canadian Court Upholds Legality of Kosher Meat Production

Canadian Jewish organizations have secured a significant legal victory, ensuring the continued legality of kosher-certified meat production in the country. Last week, Canada’s Federal Court issued an interlocutory injunction against the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), halting the implementation of new guidelines that threatened to disrupt shechita, the ritual kosher slaughter.

The contested guidelines would have required meat suppliers to subject animals to cognitive tests verifying unconsciousness before slaughter, unless electric shocks were used. Kosher certifiers argued that these regulations would increase processing time, thereby discouraging suppliers from producing kosher meat. They maintained that kosher slaughter is at least as humane as non-kosher methods, as the animal "loses consciousness almost immediately."

This legal effort was spearheaded by Canada’s leading kosher certifiers—MK Global Kosher Certification Agency and the Kashruth Council of Canada—along with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and other Jewish leaders. Their united front aimed to protect religious practices and ensure the availability of kosher meat.

In its ruling, the court noted that the balance of convenience favored the Applicants, stating, "[B]ased on the evidence presented, the balance of convenience favors the Applicants. The public interest remains adequately protected and section 143 of the SFCR [requiring humane slaughter] may continue to be enforced even if the [new requirements] are not applied." The court emphasized that suspending the new requirements would have a minimal impact on public interest and the CFIA’s mandate, while denying injunctive relief would significantly impact the Applicants' Charter rights.

Richard Rabkin, managing director of the Kashruth Council of Canada, highlighted the importance of the judgment: “Significantly, the judgment recognized that the current CFIA guidelines are clearly discriminatory. This should dispel the false perception that shechita does not abide by the highest standards of animal welfare.”

Shimon Koffler Fogel, president and CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, praised the community's collaborative effort: “All segments of the community and its institutions collaborated in this effort, and the contributions of Federation CJA and UJA Federation of Greater Toronto were significant and deeply appreciated by all stakeholders.”

Rabbi Saul Emanuel, CEO of MK Global Kosher Certification Agency, expressed his gratitude: “We are gratified that the court validated shechita as a legitimate and humane approach that takes full account of animal welfare and meets the scientific standards established by CFIA.”

This decision underscores the importance of protecting religious freedoms and maintaining the availability of kosher meat for Canada’s Jewish community. It also reaffirms that kosher slaughter practices uphold high standards of animal welfare, aligned with scientific guidelines.

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