KATHMANDU, Sept 23: The government is preparing to strictly enforce the Animal Slaughterhouse and Meat Inspection Act, 2055, as meat consumption is expected to rise with the approach of Dashain.
The Department of Livestock Services is deploying 12 technical task forces across provinces and local levels to help ensure the availability of clean, safe and quality meat during the festival.
Consumption of meat from goats, buffaloes, sheep and poultry typically increases during Dashain. The department says compliance with standards on animal health, slaughter facilities, meat inspection, storage and distribution is essential to protect consumers.
The department has already oriented members of the 12 technical task forces formed to strengthen enforcement of the Act. Department Director General Dr Umesh Dahal has instructed the task forces to provide necessary technical support to provincial and local governments for its implementation.
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A meeting of secretaries held on September 15 had directed the department to take all necessary measures without delay to implement the Animal Slaughterhouse and Meat Inspection Act. The department subsequently activated the enforcement mechanism.
Effective meat inspection is directly linked to public health. Meat from diseased animals, meat slaughtered in unhygienic conditions, or meat sold without proper inspection and storage can pose health risks, making both pre-slaughter and post-slaughter inspection important.
The need for effective market monitoring and meat inspection becomes particularly important during festivals such as Dashain, when meat demand and transactions increase sharply over a short period.
Meanwhile, the department has formed a National Animal Slaughterhouse and Meat Inspection Implementation Committee under the coordination of Deputy Director General Dr Bikash Shrestha to monitor implementation in coordination with provincial and local governments.
According to the department, the committee will submit weekly progress reports on implementation at meetings chaired by the secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment.
The government expects the measures to clarify the role of local governments in monitoring meat quality, slaughterhouse conditions and animal health inspections during Dashain.
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