The shechita defence campaign has welcomed the government’s decision to resist pressure from animal rights groups and maintain religious slaughter in the UK.

After a consultation carried out last autumn, the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) has concluded that “existing rules will be retained in relation to religious slaughter” for Muslims and Jews.

A number of groups ranging from the RSPCA to the National Secular Society had pressed for the introduction of compulsory stunning before slaughter — which is not allowed in Jewish law.

Henry Grunwald, chairman of Shechita UK, said the group was pleased that the government “remains committed to shechita in the UK”.

But he warned that many organisations and members of the public were still campaigning for an end to shechita