Animal Slaughterhouse and Meat Inspection Act, 2055 (1999)

Date of Royal Seal and Publication:- 2055-12-8 (March 22, 1999) Act No. 26 of the Year 2055 B.S. (1999) An Act Made to Provide Necessary Arrangement Relating to Animal Slaughterhouse and Meat Inspection Preamble: Whereas it is expedient to establish slaughterhouse and arrange for meat inspection to safeguard the health and welfare of the people in general and to control adulteration in meat and meat products and to maintain reasonable standard of meat by protecting the wholesomeness, quality and adequacy of meat; Now, therefore, the parliament has enacted this Act on the twenty-seventh year of the reign of His Majesty the King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. 1. Short Title and Commencement: (1) This Act may be called "Animal Slaughterhouse and Meat Inspection Act, 2055" (1999). (2) This Act shall come into force at the prescribed area from the prescribed date as notified by His Majesty's Government in the Nepal Gazettee. 2. Definition: Unless the subject or context otherwise requires, in this Act, (a) "Animal" means castrated or uncastrated goat, sheep, Himalayan goat (chyangra), pig, wild pig, he buffalo, rabbit or the females of buffalo, goat, sheep, Himalayan goat, pig, or rabbit which are fit for meat other than a cow, an ox, a bull, and this word also includes poultry, ducks, pigeon or other species of beasts and birds kept for meat purpose. (b) "Meat" means meat of animals which is fit for human consumption. ( c) "Meat Inspector" means the Meat Inspector appointed or specified under Section 6. ( d) "Meat Supervisor" means the Meat Supervisor specified under Section 7. (e) "Slaughterhouse" means the house or place where animals are slaughtered for meat purpose. (f) "Meat Seller" means a person who sells meat professionally. (g) "Prescribed" or "As Prescribed" means prescribed or as prescribed in the Rules framed under this Act. 3. No 1?stablishment of a Slaughterhouse or Selling of Meat be Made Without Licence: Nobody shall establish a slaughterhouse or become a meat seller without obtaining licence under this Act. 4. Establishment of Slaughterhouse: (l) His Majesty's Government may establish slaughterhouse in any area of the Kingdom of Nepal by a notification published in the Nepal Gazettee. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), His Majesty's Government may give permission as prescribed to the non-governmental sector also to establish a slaughterhouse. (3) The terms and conditions to be followed and the specification to be met at the time of establishment and operation of a slaughterhouse under sub-section (1) or (2) shall be as prescribed. 5. Licence: (l) A person or an organisation interested to establish a slaughterhouse or selling of meat shall have to apply for a licence in the prescribed format to the prescribed officer. (2) If an applicaton is received under sub-section (1) the prescribed officer shall make necessary inquiries on such &van'f'l~OP1 a,IIIST1IY OF LAW A -.10 Jus· . ,...,,MMe-1&1 6. 7. application and may issue a licence in the prescribed format for the establishment of a slaughterhouse or for selling meat. (3) The terms and conditions to be followed by a meat seller shall be as prescribed. Appointment of Meat Inspector: (1) In order to examme animal and meat, His Majesty's Government may appoint or designate a person who is at least a graduate in veterinary science as a Meat Inspector. (2) The other functions, duties and powers of the Meat Inspector, in addition to the function~, duties and powers mentioned in this Act, shall be as prescribed. Designation of a Meat Supervisor: (1) His Majesty's Government may designate a Meat Supervisor to any civil servant who is at least a graduate in veterinary science, for the supervision of the slaughterhouse management as well as for the supervison of the functions of the Meat Inspector. (2) His Majesty's Government may designate the Meat Supervisor to act as Meat Inspector in case where no Meat Inspector has been appointed. (3) Other functions, duties and powers of the Meat Supervisor shall be as prescribed. Examination of AnimaJs before SJaughtering (Ante­ t:Jortem Examination): ( 1) Any aninal to be slaughtered shall jl[)t: produced for ante-mortem examination at the ~. • ...,,,CJ09ft1'f10NT 01' Ne, . IIIIIHST,tY OF LAW Jic~tl J1}$TIC! ... B&A"8 M-"""'"''' r,•.,,;!!/ SECTION IFFfCllL 9. slaughterhouse where such place is established and where slaughterhouse has not yet been established at the site as specified by the Meat Supervisor. The procedure for examination of animal shall be as prescribed. (2) If an animal is found fit for slaughtering, the Meat Inspector shall give permission of slaughtering of such animal with some marking. (3) If an animal 1s found diseased upon inspection under sub-section (1) the Meat Inspector may prohibit to slaughter such animal. Slaughtering of an Animal to be Carried out in the Slaughterhouse: (I) An animal fit for slaughtering under Section 8 shall have to be slaughtered in the slaughterhouse. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1 ), if there is no slaughterhouse in any area animals shall have to be slaughtered at such place and time as specified by the Meat Supervisor. 10. Examination of Meat of the Slaughtered Animal: (1) The Meat Inspector shall have to inspect the meat of the slaughtered animal under Section 9 as prescribed. (2) If any defect or disease is found in the meat of the slaughtered animal upon examination under sub-section (l ), the Meat Inspector may partially or completely prohibit the sale or distribution of such meat. ~ m:nllll lmrn (3) For the purpose of this Section His Majesty's Government may specify a laboratory for the examination of meat. 11. Prohibition on the Sale of-Meat: (1) No sale of meat of the animal other than as mentioned in sub-section ( 1) of Section 2 shall be allowed. (2) No sale of meat of dead animal due to disease or any other cause shall be allowed. (3) No sale of meat with skin shall be allowed. Provided that this Section shall not prevent to sell the meat of birds, pigs or wild pigs, hoers and the meat of species identifying organs or portions or head or legs of the animal with skin. 12. Stamp or Marking of Meat: (1) The Meat Inspector shall have to affix clearly visible stamp or mark as prescribed at the time of giving permission for the sale of meat after the examination of meat of the animal. (2) No meat seller shall sell any meat without having stamped or marked under sub-section (1). 13. No Adulterated Meat shall be Sold: (1) No sale of meat shall be mad~ by deceiving the species of animal or by adulterating meat,9f o~ species of animal with other species of animal. SECTION< ff CEB (2) No sale of meat shall be made having adulteration of meat with any substance that alters the normal quality or taste or weight of meat. 14. Fees To Be Paid: Fees for the inspection of animal or meat under this Act shall be as prescribed. 15. Authority to Enter: The Meat Inspector or the Meat Supervisor may enter into a slaughterhouse or butcher's shop at any time to inspect an animal or meat or to take sample of meat. It will be the duty of all concerned to help on this work. 16. No Objection: Notwithstanding anything contained in other part of this Act, there shall be no objection to slaughter an animal in places other than a slaughterhouse or to consume meat with skin on the occassion of traditional festivals, religious rituals, feasts or spiritual ceremonies. 17. Punishment: (1) A person who violets sub-section (1) or (3) of Section 8, Section 9, sub-section (2) of Section 10, sub­ section (3) of Section 11 or sub-section (2) of Section 12 shall be liable to a fine upto five thousand rupees for the first time and ten thousand rupees or an imprisonment of one month or both from the second time and onwards for each offence. (2) A person who violets Section 3, sub-section (1) or (2) of Section 11 or Section 13 shall be liable to a fine upto ten thousand rupees for the first time and twenty thousand rupees or an imprisonment of three months or both from the second time and onwards for each offence. -IIAJlmn~ OP 19'» IS'l'RV OJ: LAW A"10 JUSTICIJ ... 1loob ~--""'1 ~ . SECT! N FflCEB 18. Delegation of Authority: His Majesty's Government may delegate the authority conferred to it under this Act to any agencies as per necessity. 19. His Majesty's Government shall be a Plaintiff: His Majesty's Government shall be a plaintiff in the litigation under this Act. 20. Investigation of the Case and File Thereof: (1) The Meat Inspector shall initiate the investigation of the case under this Act and shall file the case after completing the investigations to the case dealing authority. (2) The investigating personnel may seek advice with the government attorney at the time of submitting the case to the case dealing authority. 21. Case Dealing Authority: The case dealing and appeal Hearing authority for cases under this Act shall be as prescribed. 22. To Be As Per the Prevailing Laws: The matters contained in this Act shall be as per this Act and matters not provided for in this Act shall be as per the prevailing laws. 23. Power to Frame Regulation: His Majesty's Government rnay frame necessary Rules for carrying out the purpose of this Act. 24. Repeal: No 3 and No 16 of the Chapter on Fourfooted Animal of Muluki Am (The Legal Code) have been repealed. ,. - ',,.,