Staff Reporter
Panaji
The Goa Animal Husbandry Department has directed its officers to maintain strict vigilance at state borders to curb beef smuggling. The department has also instructed area officers to conduct daily inspections of meat sold by vendors, ensuring that it is sourced from authorised slaughterhouses with valid documentation.
A circular issued by the department warned that failure to provide authentic evidence of meat procurement could lead to action under the Goa Animal Preservation Act, 1995.
The move follows a letter from the Prime Minister’s Office, forwarded through the Goa Chief Secretary, enclosing a complaint from Maneka Sanjay Gandhi alleging that approximately 30 tonnes of beef are smuggled into Goa daily from Karnataka.
Director of Animal Husbandry Dr Nitin Naik told reporters that all veterinary officers have been instructed to remain vigilant at checkpoints. “This is part of our routine,” he said, adding that while police officers have the authority to stop vehicles and seize meat, the veterinary department’s role is limited to verifying valid certificates. “We have informed all veterinary officers in the respective areas to stay alert on the matter,” he added.
Since the circular’s issuance, only one vehicle has been confiscated at the Mollem check-post, Dr Naik said adding, “We are not exporting meat at the expense of the state’s needs; the excess meat has
been exported.”
Dr Naik added that meat imports to Goa have not been halted but must be sourced from certified suppliers with
valid documentation.
Officials from the Goa Meat Complex Ltd (GMC) said that certain traders spreading rumours about supply issues are attempting to continue sourcing unauthorised meat from neighbouring states. “If traders place an order for the required amount, the GMC can meet the full demand of the state, provided we receive the order 24 hours in advance,” a GMC official said.
The official detailed the meat import process, explaining that buffaloes must meet specific criteria before being transported
to Goa.
Once at GMC, they undergo inspection, an anti-mortem check, and a mandatory 12-hour holding period before slaughter. “There is a standard process to follow. If orders are placed in the morning, we cannot provide meat by the afternoon,” the official added.
The GMC has the capacity to slaughter 300 cattle in two shifts, which officials say is sufficient to meet Goa’s beef demand.
