The Dutch Senate has voted 51-21 against legislation that would have banned kosher slaughter. The bill, put forth by the Party for Animals, would have prohibited both Jewish and Muslim ritual slaughter of animals by ruling that animals must be unconscious when killed.
The bill was voted down after Jewish and Muslim community leaders signed a deal with the Dutch Minister of Agriculture agreeing that animals killed in ritual slaughter will remain conscious for no more than 40 seconds after their throats are cut.