Brussels to install temporary slaughterhouse for Eid

The government of the Brussels-Capital Region will set up a temporary slaughterhouse in the Marché Matinal wholesale food market along the canal to cope with increased demand during the Muslim feast Eid al-Adha next month. The installation replaces the slaughtering facilities used last year at municipal level.

Brussels’ minister for animal welfare has taken over the responsibility for slaughtering facilities from the municipalities. Last year Schaerbeek, Molenbeek, Anderlecht and Brussels-City set up temporary slaughterhouses on local authority property.

During Eid, Muslims are supposed to take part in ritual slaughter of an animal – usually a sheep. But the sudden surge in demand has grown too much for regular slaughterhouses to handle.

In Flanders, the government has banned ritual slaughter outside of licensed slaughterhouses. Ritual slaughter requires the animal to be conscious, while local regulations require animals to be stunned before slaughter unless the slaughter takes place at a licensed, permanent facility.

As permanent slaughterhouses are not able to keep up with demand during Eid, the Muslim community has been lobbying to get the ban lifted during Eid. Flemish animal welfare minister Ben Weyts, however, has said he would like to ban ritual slaughter altogether.

In Brussels next month, Muslims will need to register to have an animal slaughtered, and the procedure will be carried out in the new temporary facility. The carcases will be transported to pick-up points in the four municipalities. Customers themselves will not be permitted to take part in the slaughter.

It is expected that some 2,500 animals in Belgium will be slaughtered during the feast, which runs from 11 to 13 September.

Photo: Nicolas Lambert/BELGA