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Centre refers cattle trade rules to Law Ministry for revision

The Livestock Market Rules ban sale of cows and buffaloes for slaughter. While cow slaughter is banned in 21 of 30 states, buffalo slaughter is legal

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The Centre, after consultations with states and stakeholders, has sought the opinion of Ministry of Law on revision of the controversial Livestock Market Rules Regulation that prohibits sale of cattle, including buffaloes, for slaughter. The matter was referred to the Law Ministry a few days ago, sources privy to developments said.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) had notified the Regulation of Livestock Markets Rules, 2017, in May this year. The rules were formulated on orders of the Supreme Court to primarily curb illegal cattle trade and to regulate livestock markets.

Officials from the ministry, on the condition of anonymity, said the process of revising the rules had begun in July after the SC was informed that the rules would be amended. The top court had then extended the stay on the rules, imposed by Madras High Court, across the country. The ministry wrote to all states seeking their objections and views on the Rules.

The ministry also convened a meeting with stakeholders — including meat traders, officials of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and animal rights activist. It also referred the matter of revising the rules to the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), its members confirmed.

Fauzan Alavi, general secretary of All India Meat and Live Exporters Association said, "We had told the ministry that the rules were anti-farmer, anti-trade, and would lead to huge losses. We requested that buffaloes should be taken out from the ambit of definitions under these Rules."

The Livestock Market Rules had faced bitter protests, especially from the meat export industry and states such as Kerala, West Bengal and those from North-East as they permit cow slaughter. The Rules ban sale of cows and buffaloes for slaughter. While cow slaughter is banned in 21 of 30 states across the country, buffalo slaughter is legal.

One of the members of the AWBI said that the board had a discussion on those portions of the Rules that are to be revised and are likely to have another round of consultation meeting on it after law department vets them.

Following protests by Chief Ministers of Kerala, West Bengal and opposition to the Rules by NDA allies on North East, environment minister Dr.Harsh Vardhan said that the Rules were not imposing food choices. He had assured in June that Centre is revisiting the Rules

CATTLE SLAUGHTER

The Livestock Market Rules ban sale of cows and buffaloes for slaughter. While cow slaughter is banned in 21 of 30 states, buffalo slaughter is legal.

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