Animal rights group demands closure of illegal slaughterhouses

An animal rights body has demanded closure of illegal slaughterhouses and meat shops operating without licences in the national capital.
The Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisation (FIAPO) launched a campaign against illegal slaughterhouses and filed complaints against such establishments with the food safety department and local bodies, it said in a statement.
"Thousands of animals are slaughtered for food everyday across the country. Such killings are allowed only under specific rules ensuring humane treatment of animals, healthy and hygienic surroundings," the organisation said.
Birds are kept in cramped and unhygienic conditions and animals are slaughtered in shops lacking "basic paperwork", it alleged.

Sick birds are kept with the healthy ones and there is no food, water or veterinary care provided.
Animals are slaughtered in shops, which are only supposed to sell meat. There are no proper facilities for hygienic disposal of waste or processing of meat, FIAPO claimed.

It also claimed that municipal bodies did not have any mechanism to inspect these shops.
The animal rights body said such establishments were found violating the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, food safety and standards regulations, BIS standards, pollution control norms and municipal rules for registration.
"We appeal to local bodies and the food safety department to take serious note of the complaints and initiate action in the interest of the lives of animals and humans alike," said Varda Mehrotra, Director, FIAPO.