Cattle slaughter in India

India's beef industry is predominantly based on the slaughter of domesticated water buffaloes or carabeef.[1]
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Cattle Slaughter in India, especially cow slaughter, is controversial because of cattle's status as endeared and respected living beings to adherents of Dharmic religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.[2][3][4][5][6] Also, many of the Zoroastrians/Parsis living in India stopped eating beef out of respect, as it is sacred for the people of Dharmic religions; while it is an acceptable source of meat in Abrahamic religions like Islam, Christianity and Judaism.[7][8][9][10][11] Cow slaughter has mainly been shunned for two reasons: because of the cow's association with Lord Krishna in Hinduism, and because cattle have been an integral part of rural livelihoods as an economic necessity.[12][13][14] Cattle slaughter has also been opposed by various Indian religions because of the ethical principle of Ahimsa (non-violence) and the belief in the unity of all life.[15][16][17][18] Legislation against cattle slaughter is in place throughout most states and union territories of India.[18]

On 26 October 2005, the Supreme Court of India, in a landmark judgement, upheld the constitutional validity of anti-cow slaughter laws enacted by various state governments of India.[19][20][21][22] 20 out of 28 states in India had various laws regulating the act of slaughtered cow, prohibiting the slaughter or sale of cows meat.[23][24][25][26][27] Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, West Bengal, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu and Puducherry, are the places where there are no restrictions on cow slaughter.[28][29][30][31] The ban in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh was lifted in 2019.[32] As per existing meat export policy in India, the export of beef (meat of cow, oxen and calf) is prohibited.[33] Bone in meat, carcass, half carcass of buffalo is also prohibited and is not permitted to be exported. Only the boneless meats of buffalo, goat, sheep and birds are permitted for export.[34][35] India feels that the restriction on export to only boneless meat with a ban on meat with bones will add to the brand image of Indian meat. Animal carcasses are subjected to maturation for at least 24 hours before deboning. Subsequent heat processing during the bone removal operation is believed to be sufficient to kill the virus causing foot and mouth disease.[36]

The laws governing cattle slaughter in India vary greatly from state to state. The "Preservation, protection and improvement of stock and prevention of animal diseases, veterinary training and practice" is Entry 15 of the State List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, meaning that State legislatures have exclusive powers to legislate the prevention of slaughter and preservation of cattle. Some states permit the slaughter of cattle with restrictions like a "fit-for-slaughter" certificate which may be issued depending on factors like age and sex of cattle, continued economic viability etc. Other states ban completely cattle slaughter, while there is no restriction in a few states.[37] On 26 May 2017, the Ministry of Environment of the Government of India led by Bharatiya Janata Party imposed a ban on the sale and purchase of cattle for slaughter at animal markets across India, under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals statutes,[38][39] although Supreme Court of India suspended the ban on sale of cattle in its judgement in July 2017,[40] giving relief to beef and leather industries.[41]

According to a 2016 United States Department of Agriculture review, India has rapidly grown to become the world's largest beef exporter, accounting for 20% of world's beef trade based on its large water buffalo meat processing industry.[1] Surveys of cattle slaughter operations in India have reported hygiene and ethics concerns.[42][43] According to United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization and European Union, India beef consumption per capita per year is the world's lowest amongst the countries it surveyed.[44] India produced 3.643 million metric tons of beef in 2012, of which 1.963 million metric tons was consumed domestically and 1.680 million metric tons was exported. According to a 2012 report, India ranks fifth in the world in beef production and seventh in domestic consumption.[45] The Indian government requires mandatory microbiological and other testing of exported beef.[46]

  1. ^ a b From Where the Buffalo Roam: India’s Beef Exports Archived 7 May 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Maurice Landes, Alex Melton, and Seanicaa Edwards (June 2016), United States Department of Agriculture, pages 1–6
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  18. ^ a b "The states where cow slaughter is legal in India". The Indian Express. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
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  27. ^ "the fact is that cow slaughter is banned in 24 states". The Times of India. 6 October 2015.
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  29. ^ "Graphic: Mapping cow slaughter in Indian states". 7 October 2015.
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  46. ^ Lisa Ahramjian and Vijay Intodia (August 2016), [1], Editor: Jonn Slette, GAIN Report IN6115, US Department of Agriculture