The Party for the Animals submitted a new bill requiring animals to be unconscious before slaughter, including in ritual slaughter. The proposal would also prohibit carbon-dioxide stunning of pigs, electrical water-bath stunning of chickens, ducks and turkeys, the transport of heavily pregnant animals for slaughter, and the transport and conveyor-belt handling of poultry in crates without stunning.

The party acknowledged that a ban on slaughter without prior stunning restricts religious freedom under Islamic and Jewish rules. A previous attempt failed in the Senate 15 years ago. State Secretary Erkens has said he personally supports a ban, and a parliamentary majority appears possible, but parties are still assessing the legal text and it remains unclear whether the bill will pass.