An attempt to export 28 metric tons of bull meat from Chennai Port to Sharjah was foiled when officials discovered that it had been falsely labeled as buffalo meat. Chennai Customs authorities intervened and halted the export after receiving a tip-off.
The Uttar Pradesh Animal Husbandry Department had issued a certificate for buffalo meat as bull meat, which initially appeared legitimate. However, suspicions led to an inspection of the meat, and subsequent testing by Chennai Customs confirmed it was bull meat.
As a result, a case has been filed under the Customs Act against Universal Food Exports, a Delhi-based company, for attempting to export the product with misleading information. Mohammad Khalid Alam, the manager of Universal Food Exports, was arrested in connection with the incident but was later granted bail.
In response, Universal Food Exports has filed a case in the Madras High Court, and a hearing is scheduled to take place soon.
According to the red meat policy outlined by Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), the export of beef (including meat from cows, oxen, and calves) as well as bone-in buffalo meat is strictly prohibited under the current Foreign Trade Policy. However, the export of sheep and goat meat, as well as boneless buffalo meat, is allowed without restriction, provided that the conditions specified in the policy are met. Additionally, the policy requires that all exported meat must be sourced from abattoirs and meat processing plants that are registered with APEDA.
(With inputs from Maalai Malar)
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