Push for meat slaughter house

By Thomas Ngangom

IMPHAL | Aug 13

Raw meat shops in the Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) area mostly sell “uncertified meats.” The certificate they have is only for retail sale or whole sale. Certified meat can be brought for consumption after creation of slaughter houses in the state.

Commissioner of IMC, Th. Harikumar told IFP that meat shops are holding certificates for opening shops. The state needs slaughter houses and creation of meat inspector’s post.

He said MAHUD minister Th. Shyamkumar’s decision not to allow sale of meat without license from IMC and veterinary department is a good initiative.

According to the rules and regulations governing the licensing of meat shops in Imphal, meat shops should be regulated as per the directions of Manipur Municipalities Act 1976, Prevention of food Adulteration Act 1954 and related bylaws (municipal license byelaw) named The Municipalities or Nagar Panchayats (Regulation of market) Model Bylaws 1998 and the Sale of Meat Bylaws 1987 framed under provisions of the Manipur Municipalities Act 1976.

He said “meat shop” means any premises used wholly or in part for the wholesale or retail sale of raw meat for human consumption. “License” means licence granted to an owner or a keeper of meat shop.

As per Section 163 of the Manipur Municipalities Act 1976, no place shall be used for any of the purpose listed in the section in the limits fixed by the Municipal Board without a license.

It is said that in the reply to an RTI application the Municipal Board said meat shops require license. As per the byelaw, no meat shop shall be established or run or continued in the Imphal Municipal Area except under the order of a licence.

According to the reply, IMC is the supreme body in its area regulating licenses and the executive officers of IMC is the authority to issue the license. Veterinary and animal husbandry department also has a key role in licensing the meat shop.

Under Manipur Municipalities Act 1976 the meat shop must follow the conditions that is “meat should be brought from the licensed butcher. No slaughtering of animal is permitted in the premises of the shop. The shop should be properly walled. The meat should be kept in a properly arranged place or box where flies cannot enter. All articles such as scale, knives and others should be properly washed. No person shall be employed in any room who is not cleanly clad or who is suffering from  any  infectious,  contagious or  loathsome  disease  or  who  has  recently  been attending  upon  any person  suffering  from  such  disease  nor  shall  any  person  be permitted to enter any meat shop who is known to be suffering from any infectious, contagious or loathsome disease. The premises of the meat shops shall not be used for residential proposes or as eating house. No animal should be killed in the premises of the shop and the meat to be kept for sale should be from a licensed slaughterhouse.”

Harikumar further said, IMC has completed survey of 80 percent in IMC area. During the survey IMC collected data on number of meat shops with licence and  without licence.

He appealed to the concerned minister and the government to take initiatives for creation of slaughter houseand appointment of meat inspector. Before the appointment of meat inspector a veterinary doctor can be deputed, he added.

Director of veterinary and animal husbandry, H. Chaoba told IFP that a slaughter house is a must for selling certified meat. Only after having a slaughter house people can get certified meat for healthy consumption. The department is ready to co-operate with the initiatives taken by state to bring a healthy society, Chaoba asserted.