The government has issued a circular stating that from January 1, 2016, stricter rules shall apply to the transportation of animals to slaughterhouses.
On July 8, the transport ministry's circular introduced the eleventh amendment to rules under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The amendment deals specifically with the transportation of livestock meant for slaughter and seeks to curb their mistreatment.
Vehicles meant for transporting livestock are to be permanently partitioned to allow individual carriage of animals and prevent overloading. The amendment further specifies that the size of partitions should not be less than 2 sq m for cows and buffaloes, 2.25 sq m for horses and mares, 0.3 sq m for sheep and goats, 0.6 sq m for pigs and 40 sq cm for poultry.
Vehicles without special licences issued by the regional transport officer will not be allowed to ply on roads. The circular also notifies that vehicles meant for carrying livestock will not be permitted to carry any other cargo.
The amendment to the motor vehicles rules is expected to be welcomed by animal rights activists who had been raising the issue of maltreatment of animals during transport as well as animal trafficking. Over 4,000 online petitions and letters were addressed to Union Minister for Road Transport and Shipping Nitin Gadkari before the introduction of the amendment. Media reports indicate that the notification was issued after the matter was taken up by Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi.
The new rules come four years after the Food Safety Act, 2011, which laid down conditions under which animals meant for consumption were to be kept and transported. The Act had also noted that unnecessary stress during transportation affects the quality of meat, apart from being inhuman. The chances of animals contracting infections and diseases increase during periods of long travel in highly constrained spaces.
Although there are rules preventing transportation and slaughter of animals that are pregnant or injured, these are frequently flouted. The new additions impose penalties and fines which are heavier than those specified under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
Central Government Act
The Transport of Animals Rules, 1978
1. Short title.—These rules may be called the Transport of Animals Rules, 1978.
2. Definitions.—In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires,—
(a) qualified veterinary surgeon means one who holds a diploma or a degree of a recognised veterinary college;
(b) “Schedule” means a Schedule appended to these rules.
47
(a) A valid certificate by a qualified veterinary surgeon to the effect that the cattle are in a fit condition to travel by rail or road and are not suffering from any infectious or contagious or parasitic diseases and that they have been vaccinated against rinderpest and any other infectious or contagious or parasitic diseases shall accompany each consignment.
(b) In the absence of such a certificate, the carrier shall refuse to accept the consignment for transport.
(c) The certificate shall be in the form specified in Schedule E.
48 Veterinary first-aid equipment shall accompany all batches of cattle.
49
(a) Each consignment shall bear a label showing in bold red letters the name, address and telephone number (if any) of the consignor and consignee, the number and types of cattle being transported and quantity of rations and food provided.
(b) The consignee shall be informed about the train or vehicle in which the consignment of cattle is being sent and its arrival time in advance.
(c) The consignment of cattle shall be booked by the next train or vehicle and shall not be detained after the consignment is accepted for booking.
51
(a) Suitable rope and platforms should be used for loading cattle from vehicles.
(b) In case of railway wagon the dropped door of the wagon may be used as a ramp when loading or unloading is done to the platform.
52 Cattle shall be loaded after they are properly fed and given water.
53 Cattle in advanced stage of pregnancy shall not be mixed with young cattle in order to avoid stampede during transportation.
54
(1) Watering arrangements on route shall be made and sufficient quantities of water shall be carried for emergency.
(2) Sufficient feed and fodder with adequate reserve shall be carried to last during the journey.
(3) Adequate ventilation shall be ensured.
55 When cattle is to be transported by rail.—
(a) an ordinary goods wagon shall carry not more than ten adult cattle or fifteen calves on broad gauge, not more than six adult cattle or ten calves on metre gauge, or not more than four adult cattle or six calves on narrow gauge;
(b) every wagon carrying cattle shall have atleast one attendant;
(c) cattle shall be loaded parallel to the rails, facing each other;
(d) rations for padding, such as straw, shall be placed on the floor to avoid injury if a cattle lies down and this shall not be less than 6 cms thick;
(e) rations for the journey shall be carried in the middle of the wagon;
(f) to provide adequate ventilation, upper door of one side of the wagon shall be kept open properly fixed and the upper door of the wagon shall have wire gauge closely welded mesh arrangements to prevent burning cinders from the engines entering the wagon and leading to fire outbreak;
56 When cattle are to be transported by goods vehicle the following precautions are to be taken, namely:—
(a) specially fitted goods vehicles with a special type of tail board on padding around the sides should be used;
(b) ordinary goods vehicles shall be provided with anti-slipping material, such as coir matting or wooden board on the floor and the superstructure, if low, should be raised;
(c) no goods vehicle shall carry more than six cattle;
(d) each goods vehicle shall be provided with one attendant;
(e) while transporting the cattle, the goods vehicle shall not be loaded with any other merchandise; and
(f) to prevent cattle being frightened or injured, they should preferably face the engine.
Contact Us