The Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations’ Stop Illegal Slaughter campaign was started to put an end to the endless injustice and violations to animals consumed as food. The campaign enables grassroots activists to work together as a stronger force to help the millions of animals who are in deplorable conditions without basic amenities such as food, water or shelter. The campaign is up and running in Jaipur, where we are closely working with authorities including the Municipal Corporation, the Police, the Pollution Control Board, and the Food Safety and Standards Authority.
According to the rules and guidelines under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, the following norms are to be followed by any meat shop / slaughter house:
- No animal can be slaughtered in a slaughter house in sight of other animals (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001, S. 6 (1))
- No animal can be slaughtered except in recognised or licensed slaughter houses (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001, S. 3)
- A veterinary examination is mandatory before an animal can be sent for slaughter; the doctor shall examine thoroughly not more than 12 animals in an hour and not more than 96 animals in a day in a slaughter house (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001, S. 4 (2))
- It is mandatory for all shops selling meat to have license/registration from FSSAI and the local corporation/municipality (Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006 – Section 31 & Municipal Acts of respective states; imprisonment of up to 6 months and fine of Rs. 5 Lakhs for former)
- Sale of unhygienic food, as is the case in most meat shops, is illegal (Food Safety and Standard Act, 2006; punishable by a fine of 5 Lakhs)
- Every slaughter house shall provide a separate space for stunning of animals prior to slaughter (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001, S. 6 (4))
- Employment of any person under 18 years of age is illegal in a slaughter house (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughter House) Rules, 2001, S. 8 (2))
Thousands of animals are slaughtered illegally due to ineffective implementation of laws and regulations. While the fight to end the suffering of these animals is a long lasting one and will require bringing about better laws, simply implementing the existing ones seems to be the fight we need to engage in for now in the present setting. We need you to step up and join our campaign to bring justice!
Municipal corporations nationwide are responsible for ensuring the implementation of the above rules. If you find any of the above regulations being flouted, you can complain to your local Municipal Corporation!
Volunteer with the Stop Illegal Slaughter team in your city by writing to mail@fiapo.org!
Featured image: Living and dead chickens side by side at a shop in Bangalore. Credit Paul Keller, CC BY 2.0 / cropped and color adjusted
