Shillong, June 15: The East Khasi Hills District Administration has constituted the Animal Market Monitoring Committee (AMMC) to ensure meat sellers or vendors do not display meat without covering in order to avoid contamination and health hazards.

This was informed in the meeting convened by the Deputy Commissioner with all stakeholders including Shillong Municipal Board, Hima Mylliem, Food Safety Commissioner and representatives of the Butchers’ Association.

The objective of the committee is to ensure that meat sellers and vendors comply with section 18 to Rule 25 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules 2017 pertaining to the sale of live animals.

The step taken is also in pursuance to an order passed by the Meghalaya High Court with regard to the PIL filed by the Gau Gyan Foundation.

An awareness campaign will also be organized by the committee for enforcement of the Act.

Further, as per the order and also the Food Safety & Standards Act 2006/Food Safety & Standard Rules and Regulations 2011, meat sellers/vendors are not to display meat or part of the meat openly either by hanging or keeping in front of the shop without covering in order to avoid contamination and health hazards.

Sensitization of all concerned in this matter will be taken up by the office along with the Shillong Municipal Board and Food Safety Commissionerate, and a timeline will be given for compliance by all concerned.

The deputy commissioner has also instructed the assistant commissioner of Food Safety to disseminate information and provide training on alternative methods of display of meat, including storage in glass-covered enclosures to prevent multiple contacts by buyers and swarming of flies etc.

The committee also encouraged the Butchers’ Association and meat vendors to not use plastic bags for sale of meat products and to request that buyers bring their own carry bags.