We are happy to have wonderful animal welfare groups, animal protection societies and people with apathy for animal life. Animals also have the right to live. Of course their lives are equally precious as human lives. But, when Foot and Mouth disease swept across Europe an year ago, could any one stop the entire cattle population in England being euthanised. I am prompted to ask "is animal life above the human lives?". Everyone who writes about slaughter are more concerned over the welfare of the animals. Should we not worry about the consumer and clean meat production? After reading the article "Animal Welfare and National Ethos" written under the legal watch column July 15, 2003 in the Sunday Island, I am prompted to raise my opinion. While much emphasis is given for cruelty, less importance is given to slaughter regulation which is the major cause for most of the problems. The writer’s observations are only focused on prevention of cruelty to animals act. This act does not govern the slaughtering of animals for meat.

The wish and will of meat eater is independent. Meat industry is a voluminous industry. Hundreds and thousands of people depend on meat daily. The annual consumption of beef by Sri Lankans is 12.5 million Kgs. By stopping slaughtering, can we expect the people to become vegetarians overnight? Even in countries like Malaysia which is predominantly Muslims, pigs are slaughtered as ethnic Chinese consume pork. We in Sri Lanka must develop tolerance and not make animal slaughter a controversial and political issue in the name of religion and animal welfare.

It’s a well known fact that the slaughter act is outdated for this millennium. Non of the previous governments have taken any steps to bring a reformation of this act. There are 20 Municipal Councils, 39 Urban Councils and almost 150 Pradesiya Sabhas who are responsible for the slaughter of animals. The Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and the Pradesiya Sabhas make millions of rupees by auctioning these slaughter houses and the beef stalls. In which way have they contributed in the improvement of the slaughter houses. The meat inspection is done by the PHI’s under the health ministry. The aim of meat inspection is to provide safe and wholesome meat for human consumption. The responsibility for achieving this objectives lies primarily with the relevant meat inspector. Are the Public Health Inspectors competent enough to carry out meat inspection? What standards are followed? Does the health authorities follow the codex Alimentarius commission of FAO/WHO standards? (Standards recommended by FAO/WHO for developing countries). 99 out of 100 slaughter houses do not have a pound to keep the animals for antimortam examinations. Animals are not stunned before the vein and the artery are cut. Who is responsible for the quality of the meat? Is there any quality control to screen infections like E coli and salmonella infections?

One should not forget the recent outbreak of Avia influenza from the poultry in Hong Kong, the Nipa virus infection which killed more than 100 people in Malaysia was spread through pigs, the deadly mad cow disease in Europe, the foot and mouth infection in UK. And the latest SARS believed to be spread through eating pole cats in China. Now if any infection spread through meat who is going to take the responsibility of it? Is it going to be the local authorities or the Ministry of Health?

One has to look in to the entire issue in a scientific way. Government must immediately make reformation in the Animal, Slaughter, Act and Prevention of Cruelty to Act. Slaughtering condition all around the country should be improved immediately. Proper facilities for anti mortum, examination, stunning, sticking and postmortem inspections should be carried out by competent personals. Microbiological and other relevant examination should be carried out. Ritual slaughtering, illegal slaughtering should be covered in the Slaughter Act. In most countries, including US, the slaughter houses and the plants are inspected by officials from Department of Agricultural and Livestock under the supervision of qualified veterinarians who are specialized in meat inspection. It’s time we should follow the global standards.

Dr. A. Nandakumar

Hatton