The Supreme Court in their judgment in the case of Civil Appeal No.3968 of 1994 of Akhil Bharat Krishi Sangh Vs. State of Andhra Pradesh and others dated 29.3.2006 had asked the Central Government to review the meat export policy. Accordingly, the matter was reviewed in the Department of Commerce in consultation with the Department of Legal Affairs, Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, Department of Environment & Forests and Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion in the light of the Directive Principals of State Policy, existing Foreign Trade Policy for meat exports, Livestock wealth of India, Meat production vs. export of meat and Milk production in India. The views of Akhil Bharat Krishi Goseva Sangh, the petitioner, were also heard. After detailed consultation the Government decided that the existing meat export policy needed no change and a speaking Order No. 3/8/2006-EP(Agri-III) dated 3rd May, 2007 was issued in compliance of order of Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.

The Ministry of Food Processing Industries had launched the scheme for Setting up/Modernization of Abattoirs during 2008-09. This is a comprehensive scheme, which includes establishment of modern abattoirs and modernization of existing abattoirs. The scheme envisages a grant of 50% in general areas and 75% in difficult areas for cost of Plant and Machinery (P&M) and Technical Civil Work (TCW) and other eligible items subject to a maximum of Rs.15.00 crore per abattoir.

As regard the hygiene standards, the Govt. of India has laid down standards for export of meat which include standards for abattoir, processing plants. Registration of abattoirs and meat processing plants is done by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), a body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

During inspection, focus is on hygiene and sanitary conditions maintained by the plant, ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections, infrastructure, staff hygiene, laboratory facilities, record maintenance, etc.

All the Export Oriented Units have a mandatory requirement of HACCP certification and ISO standards to instil confidence in the consumer about quality and safety of meat.

The information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry Dr. E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan in Rajya Sabha today.

Meat export policy review: government retains existing policy and enforces abattoir hygiene and export certification requirements. Following a judicial direction to review the meat export policy, the Central Government after inter departmental consultation concluded that the existing policy needed no change and issued a speaking order dated 3 May 2007. The Food Processing Ministry launched an abattoir modernisation scheme with capital grants; APEDA administers registration and prescribes export hygiene and sanitary standards. Inspections focus on hygiene, ante and post mortem checks, infrastructure, laboratories and records. Export Oriented Units require HACCP and ISO certification.