FAQ

CAS (Controlled Atmospheric Stunning) commonly known as gas stunning is a method used to render chickens unconscious prior to slaughter for animal welfare purposes.
For more information on this process, kindly refer to p. 3 of the document found in the following link: Navigating-the-tide-of-CAS-Final.pdf

No, it does not. Till date, it has rejected two CAS operations and approved only two. It will only approve of those operations that meet its criteria. The CAS approval criteria is found on page 8 of the document found in the following link: Navigating-the-tide-of-CAS-Final.pdf

More and more major poultry abattoirs are moving to adopt CAS. The remaining smaller operations do not possess the capacity to cater to the growing Muslim population of Canada, nor can they fill the void that is left by the major companies. Therefore, in the best interest of the Muslim community, it was decided to study the application of CAS and see if it could truly be made halal compliant. If so, this would be a service to the community. 

For more details on this, kindly refer to pages 3 to 7 of the document found in the
following link: Navigating-the-tide-of-CAS-Final.pdf

The HMA has conducted multiple tests that clearly show that the bird is alive with an active heartbeat at the time of slaughter after being stunned. The blood flow of the birds after being slaughtered is consistent with that of a reversibly stunned bird. Upon viewing our test results, Dr. Ben Schlegel and Dr. Tom Inglis of the Poultry Health Services wrote, “When cardiac function has been interrupted or impacted by the CO2 stunning, blood flow rates and or blood pressure may be used as a proxy method of the actual cardiac activity. These reports demonstrate that heartbeats are routinely present in birds that have been exposed to controlled atmosphere stunning at these facilities, which is considered a sign of life.”

For more information on this, kindly view the document found in the following link: DOC-20240607-WA0143_240610_151307.pdf

HMA does not provide a general approval of CAS. It only approves of those operations that meet its criteria and guidelines. Canada has a unique challenge that is not found in other countries, which their local certifiers would have to deal with. Hence, there is no need for them to entertain the practice nor accept it. For more information on the challenges we face here in Canada, kindly refer to pages 3 to 7 of the document found in the following link: Navigating-the-tide-of-CAS-Final.pdf

No, the birds bleed due to having an active heartbeat. HMA has conducted tests on Controlled Atmospheric Stunned birds by holding them horizontally and cutting them. The birds bled out in a pulsating fashion, which is a sign of an active heartbeat. To view a sample of this, kindly view the video found in the following link from 4:09 onwards: https://youtu.be/aFopqN5YkhI?si=g-ceYrJInwquEEmb
Additional tests and studies were also conducted by bleeding CAS birds at different intervals. The results showed that the birds bleed out as reversiblestunned birds do due to having an active heartbeat.

In the following statement found on CFIA’s website, the CFIA is making reference to conventional slaughter operations, not halal operations: “[…] in the case of irreversible CAS stunning, the outcome is that the birds are
dead upon exit from the container; however, this should be verified through validation or documented evidence that this outcome is consistently met.” Mechanical, electrical or gas stunning; slaughter methods and monitoring signs of unconsciousness or consciousness – inspection.canada.ca

Death must be ascertained according to this statement and not assumed. When HMA tested birds for life in a halal CAS operation, the CFIA inspectors onsite
monitored us and made no objection to our tests or outcome. For more information on the tests that were conducted by the HMA to ascertain life, kindly view the document found in the following link from page 10 onwards: Navigating-the-tide-of-CAS-Final.pdf

The chicken must have an active pulse and heartbeat detected by veterinarian tools. It must be flaccid and maintain the same body temperature as pre-CAS. It must also bleed the same way a reversibly electric stunned bird does. For more information on this criterion, please refer to the document found in the following
link from page 9 onwards: Navigating-the-tide-of-CAS-Final.pdf

DOA (Dead on Arrival) birds are removed at the hanging station by the hangers after they come out of the CAS unit prior to slaughter. All hangers are trained to identify DOA birds and are required to remove them. If any bird is suspected of being dead after the hanging station due to fatal injuries, it will be removed by the Muslim slaughterers on the line under the supervision and instructions of the HMA inspector on duty, or by the inspector himself. For more details on this, please refer to the document found in the following link from page 40 to 41: Navigating-the-tide-of-CAS-Final.pdf

No bird that dies will bleed out the way a living bird does. It is easily detectable and thus removed from the line at evisceration. Under no circumstance are dead birds allowed in the food chain irrespective of whether they are halal or not. Dr. Ben Schlegel and Dr. Tom Inglis of the Poultry Health Services wrote, “When
cardiac function has been interrupted or impacted by the CO2 stunning, blood flow rates and or blood pressure may be used as a proxy method of the actual cardiac activity. […] it is worth noting that any bird which was dead at the time of cutting would not have adequate blood pressure to bleed out and would be removed from the line as a DOA carcass (dark bird).” For more information on this, kindly refer to the document found in the following link: DOC-20240607-WA0143_240610_151307.pdf

HMA has conducted rigorous testing prior to providing any approval for the application of CAS in a halal operation. It should be noted that no two CAS operations are identical. Each operation is unique and requires testing prior to granting any approval. The CAS unit the HMA has currently approved of is a well system in which sensible birds are gradually lowered through a gradient of increasing carbon dioxide concentrations, rendering the birds insensible. This varies from the more commonly used straight line unit that puts the birds through a multi-stage stunning system in which the bird receives a low dose of CO2 followed by a break and then a high dose of CO2. A diagram of the approved unit is found in the following document: DOC-20240607-WA0143_240610_151307.pdf

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), chickens are required to be rendered insensible (unconscious) prior to slaughter. Unconsciousness according to them is as follows:

• no observed spontaneous blinking
• no observable rhythmic breathing
• limp neck and head
• no righting reflex
• no beak movements (opening and closing movements)

Hence, in the absence of these signs, the blood flow rates of the bird at the time of slaughter will be relied on.

The Muslim community also has access to non-stunned meat. HMA does not accept stunning for lambs, goats and sheep in any capacity. It allows stunning in veal and beef 10 to 15 seconds after the ritual cut has been made in certain operations, not all. The Jewish community had taken the CFIA to court for making them subject to additional procedures in beef production after the animal had been slaughtered without stun, which seriously impacted their production. The additional procedures imposed on them were as follows:
• Absence of rhythmic breathing, being two or more regular rib movements in and out.
• Absence of palpebral reflex or blinking of the eyes, determined after three consecutive negative results, 20 seconds apart.
• Absence of corneal reflex after when the cow’s eyeball is touched, requiring three consecutive negative results, 20 seconds apart.
For more information on this case, kindly refer to the article found in the following link: Canada’s Jewish community wins court reprieve halting new federal kosher slaughter rules