Incentives for registered meat shops in the offing
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 06 2011: Considering the health hazard posed by unregulated meat shops and butcher houses, the government of Manipur has started taking up necessary measures to get rid of the mushrooming meat shops/butcher houses which are selling dressed chicken, pork, beef, mutton or fish without any proper arrangement in different parts.

Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao, a top official of the Industries Department, government of Manipur pointed out that running of unregistered meat shops and selling meat amid dust and unhygienic condition is illegal and is punishable under Food Safety and Adulteration Act.

According to this Act, every meat shop should have tiled or marbled floor so that washing and mopping is made easier.

The meat to be sold should be washed with clean water and the knife as well as the table used for cutting the meat should be easily washable, the source explained, adding that non-compliance of these rules is punishable under the Act.

Although the Industries Department has no means and power as such to prevent selling of meats and other foods in unhygienic condition, steps have been taken up for supplying necessary equipments and other accessories to meat shops and butchers which are registered under DIC.

Under this initiative, deep freezer and generator also be provided to the registered meat shops on cost sharing basis.

75 percent of the cost would be borne by the government while the remaining 25 percent by the owners, the source disclosed.

The idea behind providing deep freezer is that customers would go to the meat shops which have deep freezers and the rest would fizzle out automatically.

Customers have been frequenting unregistered meat shops because they do not have the choice, the source explained.

When contacted in connection with the initiative of the Industries Department, Chairperson of Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) Raghumani informed that IMC officials have started inspecting the condition of meat shops in Imphal area and steps would be taken up to shut down those which are not yet registered or found doing business in unhygienic condition.

Appreciating the efforts being taken up by the Industries Department, Raghumani observed it would be of great help in preventing meat shops from selling uncovered and stale meats.

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