The East Khasi Hills district administration has constituted the Animal Market Monitoring Committee to ensure hygienic conditions to be followed by meat sellers.
A meeting to constitute the committee was convened by deputy commissioner Isawanda Laloo with all stakeholders including Shillong Municipal Board, Hima Mylliem, Food Safety Commissioner and representatives of the Butchers’ Association.
“The objective of the committee is to ensure that meat sellers and vendors comply with section 18 to Rule 25 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules 2017 pertaining to the sale of live animals,” the office said in a press release today.
The Meghalaya High Court had on May 20 asked the state government to ensure that meat sellers conform to hygienic conditions while carrying out their businesses. The Division Bench of the Meghalaya High Court was hearing a PIL filed by Gau Gyan Foundation.
An awareness campaign for enforcement of the Food Safety & Standards Act 2006/Food Safety & Standard Rules and Regulations 2011 will also be organised to sensitise all concerned.
As per the act, meat sellers/vendors are not to display meat or part of the meat openly either by hanging or keeping in front of the shop without covering in order to avoid contamination and health hazards.
The deputy commissioner has also instructed the assistant commissioner of Food Safety to disseminate information and provide training on alternative methods of display of meat, including storage in glass-covered enclosures to prevent multiple contacts by buyers and swarming of flies etc.
The committee also encouraged the Butchers’ Association and meat vendors to not use plastic bags for sale of meat products and to request that buyers bring their own carry bags.
