February 20, 2009

In a bid to streamline the meat and poultry processing industry in India, the government launched the National Meat and Poultry Processing Board (NMPPB) on Thursday (Feb 19).

 

Food Processing Industries minister of state Subodh Kant Sahai said this new board would address issues related to the production of clean and hygienic meat and meat products.

 

Sahai said the board will also go a long way in helping the rural economy through employment generation.

 

According to the minister, NMPPB will also work towards raising domestic standards in meat and poultry processing to international levels, develop uniform and effective meat quality testing systems and address environmental pollution issues arising out of the conditions now prevailing in the meat industry.

 

Among the key areas of work of the NMPPB, is helping the meat industry in setting up and modernising abattoirs by providing technical consultancy for production of hygienic meat and meat products, and utilisation of slaughterhouse wastes to prepare animal by-products with value addition.

 

The board will also set up quality control laboratories and analytical laboratories for meat and meat products to meet the required domestic and international market standards.

 

NMPPB would set up a mechanism for implementation of existing regulations and laws in India on meat and meat production, processing and marketing.

 

The board will also undertake market surveys and help the industry to create market intelligence to improve the meat sector, provide help for research in the meat processing industry, establish infrastructure for backward and forward linkages for traceability of the industry and also work as a central hub to address issues relating to meat and poultry processing sector for its systematic and proper development.

 

Sahai said that the new board would have 19 members; nine non-official members while the other members will be representatives from various ministries and state governments.

 

The cabinet had in December given the approval for the setting up of the board with an outlay of Rp146.4 million.

 

The minister also said they will fund the board for the first three years and thereafter the board will have to have a revenue generating model, which may include the industry.

 

He also stated that the creation of the NMPPB will help attract foreign investment in the meat and poultry processing sector.

 

The new board will be set up under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, to ensure accountability, scrutiny and audit.