Manchester: A certification scheme has been launched recently for meat and poultry that is produced without the use of stunning of any kind and is available for slaughterhouses, cutting plants, meat retailers, wholesalers, restaurants and takeaways across the UK. The launch was officiated by the Halal Food Authority (HFA) and the Halal Food Foundation (a parent charity of Traditional Halal and HFA) in an attempt to enhance the welfare standards, training and skills in the non-stun meat sector and to achieve further excellence in the Halal meat supply chain, with quality, consistency and sustainability. Dr Abdul Matin Khan, chairman of Traditional Halal and HFA, said, “We are fully committed to promoting Halal trade and supporting the traditional way of Halal slaughter.” Saqib Mohammed, chief executive of Traditional Halal and HFA, said there was a need for advanced training and enhanced competence in the Halal sector in order to meet the highest levels of animal welfare and meat quality. “We have developed animal welfare training for our supervisors, slaughtermen and site operators, which will be offered to the applicants free of charge under this scheme.”