The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD) on June 07, 2023, issued a notification regarding inviting comments/ suggestions on the Draft Live-Stock and Live-Stock Products [Importation and Exportation] Bill, 2023. An Act to frame measures for the regulation of the importation of live-stock and live-stock products as well as promotion and development of exports of livestock and live-stock products.
The proposed definition(s) of the term(s) “live-stock” and “live-stock products” are as under:
“(e) “live-stock” includes all equines (all live equine irrespective of purpose including donkey, horses, mule, assess, hinnies), bovines (all bovine animals including cattle, buffaloes, bullocks or any animals falling in the category of bovidae), caprines, ovines, swines, canines, felines, avian, laboratory animals, aquatic animals and any other animal which may be specified by the Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette from time to time, except those prohibited in any other act;”
“(f) “live-stock products” include meat and meat products of all kinds including fresh, chilled and frozen meat, tissue, organs of bovine, poultry, pig, sheep, goat; egg and egg powder, milk and milk products; bovine, ovine and caprine, embryos, ova, semen; pet food products of animal origin and any other animal product produced from live-stock as notified under section 2 (e) by the Central Government in the Official Gazette from time to time; “
The definition of the term “live-stock” under section 1(e) of the draft legislation now includes “canines” (Dogs) “felines” (Cats). In other words, if this legislation comes into force, it would pave a way to lift homeless community animals, like Dogs and Cats, from our streets for live export to countries like China, where their meat is high in demand.
Not only is this legislation unconstitutional, but is also an attempt to side step the Judgments and Direction(s) of various Courts of Record under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the rules made thereunder.
India is the land of Ahimsa. Our culture is looked upon by the other countries of the World. Can we really be exporting yoga at the same time as our community animals for slaughter ?
Why is India even considering live animal exports when the whole civilised world has rejected it ? Instead of introducing progressive policies worthy of a mature nation, we seem to be regressing into the dark ages.
