The National Meat and Poultry Processing Board Conference announced yesterday, May 5, the establishment of the first meat and poultry food-testing laboratory in Delhi, India, which would start functioning by June 30, 2010.

 

Thereafter, the board may consider some more laboratories in different parts of the country. Shri Subodh Kant Sahai, minister of Food Processing Industries also highlighted the importance of creating standard policies for meat production and export, standardising the quality and safety aspects of meat and poultry, and creating infrastructure facilities for modern slaughter houses, meat testing facilities and cold storages for the growth of the meat and poultry processing sector.

 

The minister emphasised on a revolution that will catapult the meat and poultry processing sector of the country to great heights. The minister said that the board will become a "one-stop shop" for providing solutions to all the problems of the meat and poultry processing industries. He stressed the need for tapping the huge and hitherto untapped export market for Indian meat and poultry processed products.

 

Shri Ashok Sinha, secretary of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, said that there is tremendous scope in meat and poultry processing sector. New entrepreneurs venturing in meat and poultry processing industries have great potentials for growth. At present, the meat consumption per capita of six grammes per day will have to be improved to 50 grammes a day in the next decade or so.