Labs at ports to check beef export

Amid a raging controversy over the export of beef after the Dadri killing, the Centre on Tuesday announced the setting up of special labs at major ports to check illegal export of cow meat. Minister of state for agriculture Sanjeev Kumar Balyan made the announcement after a review meeting on illegal export of cow meat with officials of agri-export promotion body, APEDA, the food processing ministry and the agriculture ministry.

The labs will test whether meat of cow is being passed off as buffalo meat. India is one of the world's largest exporters of some varieties of buffalo meat.

However, since April there has been a decline in buffalo meat export, mainly due to slow demand from China and Vietnam. The minister said exports have declined 14.7 per cent to $1,483 million during April-August due to strict monitoring of shipments. Buffalo meat has been one of India's top agri-export commodities, generating about $4 billion a year.

Buffalo meat is allowed to be exported from 49 registered abattoirs across the country, while in total there are around 1,696 slaughter houses in the country, where buffaloes are slaughtered. Of this, the maximum (316) are in Maharashtra, followed by UP (20).

"APEDA officials said there is no illegal export of cow meat as production and exports are strictly monitored through a software-Meat Net. However, it has been decided to set up labs at ports to check illegal export of cow meat," Balyan told reporters. Exports are largely undertaken via the Mumbai port, he said.

Cow meat export is banned in the country. When asked about the Centre's plan to bring a model law on cow slaughter, Balyan said, "I have no idea about such a proposal." He also said the Centre cannot control illegal cow slaughter as the matter is a state subject.

Currently, five states and one Union Territory - Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Lakshadweep - have no laws on prohibiting cow slaughter.

Movement of beef within and outside the state is completely banned in states such as Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Daman and Diu, Haryana, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

Sale of beef is completely banned in Chhattisgarh, Daman and Diu, Delhi, Haryana, Goa, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

India exported buffalo meat worth $4,781.2 million in 2014-15. On Monday, Balyan had said the lynching incident at Dadri was a "spontaneous act" and no communal colour should be given to it. He had asked the UP government to take strict action against cow slaughter.