Centre will examine representations regarding controversial Rules relating to sale of cattle

The Ministry of Environment and Forests will examine representations received regarding certain provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Market) Rules, 2017..A press release has been published to that effect on the website of the Press Information Bureau. The press release states that.“…the basic purpose of the Rule is to ensure welfare of the animals in the cattle market and ensure adequate facilities for housing, feeding, feed storage area, water supply, water troughs, ramps, enclosures for sick animals, veterinary care and proper drainage etc. .The prime focus of the regulation is to protect the animals from cruelty and not to regulate the existing trade in cattle for slaughter houses.”.The Centre has further clarified that the Rules are intended to make animal markets hubs for trading animals for agriculture, while animals for slaughter will have to be brought from ‘farmers at the farms’..“The notified rules will remove the scope of illegal sale and smuggling of the cattle which is a major concern. The specific provisions apply only to animals which are bought and sold in the notified live stock markets and animals that are seized as case properties. These rules do not cover other areas”, the press release states..The press release then goes on to state that various representations were received by the Ministry regarding the Rules and the same will be examined by the Ministry..The Central government had notified the controversial Rules, which ban the sale of cattle for the purpose of slaughter in animal markets, on May 23..Rule 22 of the Rules place certain specific restrictions on the sale of cattle in these markets. Rule 22(b) requires a person bringing cattle to the market to submit a written declaration stating that the animal has not been brought to the market for slaughter. Further, Rule 22(d) requires an Animal Market Monitoring Committee to obtain a certificate from the buyer of an animal that it has been bought for agricultural purposes. Rule 22(e) prevents the purchaser from selling the animal for slaughter..Read the press release below.