Kathmandu, October 7
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment has made public a draft of the “Animal Slaughterhouse and Meat Inspection (Second Amendment) Regulations, 2057 BS.”
In a notice, the ministry has sought opinions, suggestions and feedback on the draft from the general public and stakeholders under Section 6(2) of the Legislation Act, 2081.
According to the summary released, the main aims of the draft are to simplify the process of obtaining a licence to sell meat, update the physical standards for meat shops and slaughter sites to current needs, and cover the work of technical staff in meat inspection.
Under the proposed provisions, meat shops and slaughter sites must be completely separate. Before animals are slaughtered, a roofed shed capable of letting them rest for at least 12 hours must be built.
The draft also proposes special arrangements for cleaning animals before slaughter, conducting health checks and keeping sick animals, or those suspected of disease, separate. Areas for skinning, removing hair or feathers, cleaning and cutting meat, and for inspection and sale and distribution must also be properly organised.
With consumer health in mind, meat shops must have an adequate supply of clean water as well as hand-washing facilities for customers. The draft also proposes that sales areas have a chiller or freezer for the cold chain, to maintain meat quality and hygiene.
The draft tightens the conditions that people who slaughter animals and cut meat must follow. A new Rule 8 (A) provides that meat suspected of disease, or showing marks or spots, as well as materials attached to the meat such as the serous membrane, may not be removed or erased in any way without the order of a meat inspector.
If an animal has to be slaughtered in an emergency, prior notice with reasons must be given to the meat inspector. Cloths, tools or weapons used on the meat of a diseased animal are completely barred from reuse without disinfection, and after the inspector has examined the meat of a slaughtered animal, work must proceed only according to the inspector’s instructions.
The amendment widens and clarifies the powers and responsibilities of meat inspectors. Inspectors can verify whether a slaughterhouse or slaughter site meets the standards and give operators the necessary directions.
Inspectors are given full authority to decide whether an animal is fit for slaughter and whether the meat is fit for human consumption, to destroy unhealthy meat, and to stamp meat as fit, unfit or suspect according to its condition. Once an inspector has stamped or marked the meat, the slaughterhouse or slaughter site operator, the transporter and the meat seller bear full responsibility for its safe transport, storage and quality.
To make the system modern and transparent, the draft also adds a provision allowing the department to operate an “integrated digital system” to keep records on slaughterhouses and meat inspection.
To reduce administrative hassle, the legal wording has been revised so that certain recommendations previously made in consultation with the ward office and the village or municipal executive will now be handled by the “livestock section or division.”
The ministry has asked all stakeholders and the general public to send their constructive opinions and suggestions to the ministry’s address or email within one week of the notice’s publication.
