According to the prime minister, as a result of the embargo imposed on Lithuania by Russia, active work is ongoing with Asian countries.
"We see no other choice after Russia imposed the embargo on Lithuanian food products. Russian market is vast and there are companies whose export to Russia comprises a substantial share of the total export volume," the prime minister said in an interview to the national radio on Tuesday.
"I believe the law would facilitate entering those countries which require for it to be adopted in Lithuania and such slaughter procedures would be applied. I evaluate this very positively," said Butkevicius.
Repelling criticism of animal rights advocates that animals would be slaughtered without stunning which would be a step back in animal rights, Butkevicius said a solution can be found.
"I think there should be a happy medium, a middle way, because not all animals would be slaughtered like this but only a portion that would be exported to certain Asian countries," the head of the Government said.
It is thought that authorisation of slaughter of animals in accordance to religious rite would facilitate export to the Muslim countries and Israel.
