West Bengal Meat Control Order, 1966

GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY & VETERINARY SERVICES
Veterinary

No. Ess./Com./Meat/West Bengal/S. No. 5305-Vety. Date: 17th June 1966

ORDER

Whereas the Governor is of opinion that it is necessary and expedient so to do for maintaining the supplies in West Bengal of flesh of animals used as foodstuff;

Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (Act 10 of 1955), read with clauses (a), (d) and (j) of sub-section (2) of the said section and the Government of India, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, order No. G.S.R.888, dated the 28th June 1961, published at pages 962-963 of Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i) of the “Gazette of India,” dated the 8th July 1961, as subsequently amended, the Governor is pleased, with the prior concurrence of the Central Government, to make the following order, namely:

1. Short title, commencement and application

(1) This order may be called the West Bengal Meat Control Order, 1966.
(2) It extends to the whole of West Bengal.
(3) It shall come into force on the 27th June 1966.

2. Definitions

In this order, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or content,-

(a) “catering establishment” means any hotel, restaurant, eating house, café, club, canteen and includes any other place open to the public or to any class of the public where food or refreshment is consumed or is procurable:

(b) “meat” means the flesh of an animal used as foodstuff;

(c) “prohibited day” means every Thursday and such other day of the week as the State Government may by notification in the “Calcutta Gazette,” specify in this behalf;

(d) “slaughter house” means any place used for the slaughter of any animal for the purpose of selling the flesh thereof as meat.

3. Prohibited of slaughter of animal, sale of meat, etc.

(1) No person shall slaughter or cause to be slaughtered any animal at any slaughter house or at any other place-

(a) after five o’clock post meridiem on the day immediately preceding a prohibited day, or

(b) before twelve o’clock post meridiem on a prohibited day, for the purpose of selling, supplying or using its flesh or causing or suffering the same to be sold, supplied or used, as meat.

(2) No person shall, on a prohibited day, sell or supply at any market or other place any meat.

(3) No owner, manager or person in charge or having control of any catering establishment shall, on a prohibited day, sell, serve, supply or cause to be sold, served or supplied in such catering establishment any meat or any food containing meat.

4. Powers of entry, inspection, etc.

Any officer authorized by the State Government in this behalf may-

(a) at any time enter and inspect any place which is used or believed to be used for the slaughter of animals for the purpose of selling the flesh thereof as meat or where meat is sold or is believed to be sold or where any food containing meat is served, supplied or sold or is believed to be served, supplied or sold, in contravention of any of the provisions of this order;

(b) require the owner, manager or person in charge or control of any slaughter house or catering establishment to furnish such information as may be necessary for the purpose of securing compliance with this order.

5. Seizure

(1) The officer authorized under paragraph 4 may seize any animal found in any place in respect of which he has reason to believe that contravention of any of the provisions of this order is being or is about or likely to be committed.

(2) On such seizure the officer shall arrange for the proper custody of the animal and shall Submit a report of such seizure and a compliance writing against the person who appears to have committed the offence to a Magistrate having jurisdiction.

6. Order for custody and sale of animal pending trial

Upon receipt of such report and complaint the Magistrate may make such order as he thinks fit for the proper custody of the animal pending the conclusion of the trial and may, after recording such evidence as he thinks necessary, order the animal to be sold and the sale-proceeds thereof to be deposited in Court.

7. Power to exempt

The State Government may, by notification in the “Calcutta Gazette,” exempt from the operation of the provisions of this order the slaughter of animals or the sale, supply or service of meat or food containing meat on such religious occasions and subject to such terms and conditions as may be specified in the notification.

8. Order not to apply in certain cases

Nothing in this order shall apply to the slaughter of animals at any butchery controlled by military authorities or to the sale, service or supply of meat by any catering establishment controlled by such authorities.

By order of the Governor

Sd/- B. K. BHATTACHARYA,
Secy. To the Govt. of West Bengal.