Panaji: Goa is moving to enforce existing rules on poultry transportation, including mandatory veterinary health certificates, traceability of consignments and safeguards against prolonged journeys, with the newly constituted Goa State Poultry Development Corporation set to regulate the movement of birds into and within the state.“These rules have been mandatory for ages. Unfortunately, nobody was following it. We are just enforcing it now through the corporation,” an animal husbandry and veterinary services official said.TOI reported on Aug 2 that state govt had formed the corporation to conduct poultry and poultry products business in India and abroad and regulate the sector.The corporation aims to establish the source of poultry consignments, monitor transportation time and ensure that birds are accompanied by health certificates issued by qualified veterinarians. A notification in this regard is expected to be published soon.Under the existing transportation rules, poultry cannot be transported continuously for prolonged periods. Birds must be provided food and water, with a rest break every six hours, the official said.The mandatory health certification is also intended to address concerns over antibiotic residues and antimicrobial resistance. Authorities want details of the source farm, including medication administered and vaccinations undertaken, to ensure that poultry entering the market meets health requirements.“If antibiotics are administered to birds on a farm and they are shipped to the market the next day, consumers could face problems. We have to ensure that the humans consuming the meat are not affected,” the official said.The official added that the objective was not to take over traders’ businesses, but to ensure traceability, humane transportation and consumer safety through consistent enforcement of existing rules.
