October 5, 2010

Bangladesh approves meat slaughter draft law amid anthrax scare

Against the backdrop of anthrax scare, the Bangladeshi government on Monday (Oct 4) approved a draft law on The Animal Slaughter (Restriction) and Meat (Control) Act-2010.

The proposed law aims to ensure checking of pre-slaughtered animals and their meats for the protection of human and animal health and environment. According to the draft law, every slaughterhouse and butcher shop must obtain licence from the government and ensure health check up of their workers.

The law has been formulated to frame a legal structure for exporting meat and meat processed goods.

The cabinet at its weekly meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair gave final approval to the draft law aiming to ensure safe meat for people.

Livestock ministry placed the draft law before the cabinet meeting after getting it vetted by the law ministry. Provisions of punishment and compensation for violating the law have been included in it. The law will come into effect after getting parliament's nod.

The summary of the draft said "some serious diseases like tuberculosis, rabies, anthrax and salmonella might spread to human body if the processed meat of slaughtered animals and birds are not healthy."

It added that a number of meat processing factories and slaughterhouses have been established in the country amidst the export demand of halal meat from many countries including Malaysia.