Trading of cattle for slaughter at livestock markets banned

In a move that is going to have a widespread impact on meat exports and farmers who want to sell old livestock, the Centre has prohibited sale of cattle for slaughter, including buffaloes, at livestock markets across the country. The prohibition is part of the 'Regulation of Livestock Markets Rules', 2017, that were notified by the environment ministry late on Thursday. The Rules were formulated on orders of the Supreme Court, primarily to prevent illegal cattle trade and to regulate livestock markets.

The new regulation, though, does not impose a blanket prohibition on slaughter of cattle or buffaloes. But, across all states, including those that permit cow or buffalo slaughter, sale or purchase of cattle will not be allowed at the multiple animal markets. They would now have to be bought directly from farmers or farm breeders.

As per the new Rules, both buyers and sellers would also have to prove that they are agriculturists and provide a clutch of paperwork including their identity and identity of their cattle. Those selling the cattle would also have to given an undertaking that the sale of the cattle is not for slaughter. Similarly, the buyer too would have to give an undertaking. "Take an understanding that the animals are bought for agriculture purposes and not for slaughter. The buyer has to prove that he is an agriculturist," states a clause from the Rules that were notified under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

The notification would be applicable to trade of cows, bulls, bullocks, steers, heifers, calves and even camels.

The new Rules come at a time when even legitimate transport and trading of cattle has been targeted by self-proclaimed cow protection vigilante groups. While cow slaughter is banned in 21 of 30 states across the country, buffalo slaughter is legal. The environment ministry's new regulation is likely to put the buffalo export industry in a further spot of bother as it comes close on the heels of the Uttar Pradesh government's crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses, which has had a collateral effect on exporters too.

According to Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the country exported 13.14 lakh metric tonnes of buffalo meat products to the world worth of Rs. 26,681.56 Crores in 2015-16. Industry representatives said the new regulation is going to hit the export industry hard and that it may even encourage more vigilantism. "They are saying that is is for animal welfare but, the stakeholders were never consulted. If the government wants to regulate markets, they should first put things in motion, there is no problem with regulating markets. This regulation will also affect the dairy industry," said Fauzan Alavi, General Secretary, All India Meat and Live Exporters Association.

Animal activist N.G. Jayasimha, Managing Director, Humane Society of India said that the Rules intend to promote the concept of "farm to fork", which revolves around the traceability of food products as they move through the supply chain. "Only healthy animals are traded for agricultural purposes, whereas animals for slaughter must be sourced directly from farms to ensure traceability," Jayasimha said in a statement.

Besides seeking to regulate animal markets, the Rules placed prohibition on branding of animals, painting them and even putting ornaments on them. Also, it has now made it mandatory to hand over animals, seized under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to infirmaries, cow shelters or animal welfare organizations when litigations are underway.

Special curbs, too, have been put in place to check cattle smuggling. No animal markets will be allowed within 50 kms from state borders and within 100 kms from international borders. Cattle smuggling is rampant along the Indo-Bangladesh border and Indo-Nepal border with over a million taken across borders. But, the Narendra Modi-led BJP government at Centre brought the issue on the centrestage during 2014 general elections and the union ministry for home affairs has adopted a stringent policy against cattle smugglers.