Sale, purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter

The government has banned the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter, a move that is expected to hit export and trade of meat and leather.

It also prohibited practices that are cruel to animals including painting of horns and putting ornaments or decorative materials on them.

The environment ministry has notified the stringent 'Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017' under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan said the new rules are very "specific" and aim to regulate animal markets and sale of cattle.

He clarified that the provisions only apply to animals in livestock markets and animals seized as case properties, adding these rules do not cover other areas.

A senior environment ministry official told

(This article has not been edited by DNA's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)