Licence now a must for meat traders

The Department of Livestock Services (DLS) has made it mandatory for meat sellers to have a licence which may cost the traders from a minimum of Tk 15,000 to a maximum of Tk 70,000. 

The department recently issued an order to this end with immediate effect.

Meat sellers responded with dismay to the new order, complaining the licence fee has been set too high and its effect will spill over on consumers.

According to the DLS order, apart from selling meat, traders must also get permission from the department for setting up and operating slaughterhouses and meat processing plants.

DLS officials said meat traders in rural markets usually do not register with any government agency. However, those who sell meat in the city corporation areas, need a trade licence from the city corporation.

From now on, meat traders operating in the city will have to obtain an additional licence from DLS in addition to the city corporation trade licence, said the officials.

Speaking about the new order, DLS Director General Emdadul Haque Talukdar said, “Animal slaughtering everywhere is harmful to the environment. Apart from that there are many cattle diseases, which are a threat to human health. After this new licence system is activated, butchers cannot slaughter animals everywhere. Hence, those diseases will not be able to enter the human body.”

He also said animals should be slaughtered in the approved slaughterhouse where certain tests must be completed before safely slaughtering the cattles and delivering the meat.

“How much meat was produced, how much was sold and at what price - all these things will also be overseen. No one can do business without our licence,” added DG Emdadul.

According to the DLS order, licence fee will vary depending on how much meat a trader produces per week.

If meat production is less than one tonne per week, the application fee for the licence will be Tk 1,000, the permit fee will be Tk 15,000 and the renewal fee will be Tk 1,500 per year.

If meat production is more than a tonne but less than eight tonnes per week, the application fee for the licence will be Tk 2,000, permit fee Tk 25,000 and renewal fee Tk 7,500.

For producing eight tonnes or more meat in a week, the application fee will be Tk 3,000, the permit fee will be Tk 70,000 and the renewal fee will be Tk 15,000.

According to Section 9 of Animal Slaughter and Meat Quality Control Act 2011 and Rule 13 (1) of Animal Slaughter and Meat Quality Control Rules 2021, if the district animal husbandry officer is not a veterinarian to act as the licencing authority for setting up slaughterhouse or meat sale centre or meat processing plants, then the district veterinary officer shall act as the authorised officer of registration.