TRADE IN POLISH BEEF WITH MUSLIM COUNTRIES IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BAN ON RITUAL SLAUGHTER

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to identify the changes in beef trade between Poland and selected Muslim countries in the context of the ban on ritual slaughter. The economic consequences of the ban were discussed. Data from the UN Comtrade Database and FAOSTAT were used as a basis for analyzing the importance of international trade in beef and of beef production and consumption in Poland, Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the context of the Polish Ritual Slaughter Act. This research found that the ban provided for in the Act had an adverse effect on Poland’s market position as a beef exporter to Turkey and, on the other hand, made suppliers reconsider their market behavior, as reflected by beef exports to Bosnia and Herzegovina and re-exports to Turkey. Another conclusion from this research is that the ethical motivation behind the ban on ritual slaughter failed to produce expected results.