Imphal, October 28 2014: As "animal meat" is defined as the meat which belongs to Sheep, Goat, Pig, Cattle, Poultry and Fish only under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSS) 2006 and Food Product Standard and Food Additives Regulation 2011, the People for Animals, Manipur has appealed to managers of food stalls in the upcoming Sangai Festival 2014 to check the food which will be offered by the stall keepers.
A statement issued today by L.Biswajeet Meitei, Managing Trustee, People for Animals, Manipur said slaughtering of animals of any other species other than these animals is not permissible under the act and regulations.
The PFA Manipur also urged the officials who are managing food stalls in the Sangai festival to arrange the food stalls into veg and non-veg stalls separately.
Saying that wildlife meat is to be strictly checked, the statement called upon all concerned that dog, rabbit or any other uncommon animal meat is to be avoided.
PFA Manipur will keep vigil on the food stalls, it said and added that strange food will not impress foreigners, as Manipur is famous for sports, culture and rare wildlife, but not for cuisine.
Selling of cooked meat which are not permitted could be imprisoned up to 6 months and with fine up to one lakh rupees, according to the FSS Act 2006. Selling of wild animals' meat could also be punished with huge fine under this act and Wildlife protection Act.
The Food Safety commissioner of the state to detail officials to check the food items offered in the festival, PFA urged, while requesting Pony and Polo associations not to provide joy ride of Pony horses in the festival.
In the previous years, staffs of wildlife department were deployed to check sale or offering of wildlife meat or its products.
The PFA statement further suggested the Wildlife department to provide to and fro transport services to access parks, sanctuaries, lakes and gardens of the state.
