Australia – Rabbis, Meat Watchdog Stand by Kosher Practices.

Australia – RABBINIC authorities and Victoria’s meat industry regulator have given reassurances that shechita (kosher slaughter) is carried out in full accordance with government regulations.

“All [kosher] slaughter conforms 100 per cent with Australian standards,” Rabbi Mordechai Gutnick, Kosher Australia’s rabbinic administrator, said this week.

His statement followed an announcement by Federal Agricultural Minister Peter McGauran of an immediate investigation into ritual slaughter in Australia, after animal-welfare groups received complaints about alleged practices at a Victorian export abattoir, Midfield Meats, which has an exemption to slaughter meat without stunning.

According to Rabbi Gutnick, no kosher slaughtering is or ever has been conducted at Midfield Meats. [ajn]