Marking of the animals for slaughtering with proper health marks as a symbol of cleanliness has been made mandatory now under the Municipal license (For sale of flesh, fish or poultry) Regulation, 2017. Considering health factor and ban on illegal slaughter houses including closure of illicit meat/chicken shops, the decision was taken in the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) board meeting on Wednesday.
Some mandatory clauses like slaughtering of animals only at the licensed abattoirs, lease deed or permanent setup, proper solid waste management facility, consulting veterinary doctor, health mark on of every animal are made must before selling it to the consumers.
“In an attempt to maintain purity and keep a track record, meat marking has been made mandatory.
The meat of every animal which is slaughtered at the Municipal Slaughter House or any other licensed slaughterhouse will bear a health mark/stamp after the veterinary doctor declare the product fit for human consumption,” said, Municipal Commissioner, Prashant Kumar, while clearing the by-laws for sale of poultry products in RMC areas.
“The RMC officials have been instructed to immediately seize meat, if sold out or supplied without a health mark,” added Kumar.
The instruments and marking article that will be utilized by the veterinary doctor will be kept under the custody of doctors only to avoid contamination. Only after examining the animal parts or organs by the veterinary doctor fit for human consumption will be passed and marked along with an identification mark as G for goat flesh, M for Mutton, B for Buffalo, P for Pig, PO for Poultry and F for fish as per the new by-laws. However, for the time being fish has been exempted from the above clause.
On demand of ward councilors, sale of flesh products have been completely banned within a 100-meter radius of any religious place and school in State capital. However, for private parties and ceremonial functions, the civic body has eased the norms for people and they can slaughter the animal as per their convenience at their respective homes for non-commercial purposes.
Before issuing the license to the traders an inspection team will inspect the shop seeking all new approved norms. Now fish sellers will have to pay `500 to get the license, while the chicken and meat sellers have to pay `2000 and `4000 respectively on annual basis to become a authorized license holder.
Notably, a person violating the set guidelines under sale of flesh, fish or poultry will be penalized `2000. The licence fee will be incremented by 10 per cent in every three years by the order of Municipal Commissioner.
The civic body will utilize `1175 crore in the financial year (FY) 2017-18 for the welfare activities. Under various sub-heads, the work will be carried out in all the 55 wards. During the board meeting, Municipal Commissioner, Prashant Kumar said that `1915 cr. is the total disbursement amount.