J&K Cracks Down on Rotten Meat, Seizes Over 11,600 Kg in Statewide Drive, Official Data Reveals

Suhail Khan 

Srinagar, Oct 29: In a significant move to safeguard public health, the Jammu and Kashmir government has announced the seizure and destruction of approximately 11,602 kilograms of suspected rotten and adulterated meat across the Union Territory since July 2025.

This information was revealed in a written reply from the Health and Medical Education Department to a question by Honourable MLA Mubarak Gul during the ongoing Autumn Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.

Detailing the government’s actions, the department outlined a multi-pronged strategy to combat the menace of substandard meat. This effort has included over 1,430 inspections targeting Food Business Operators (FBOs) dealing in meat and meat products.

In its response, the government clarified in a detailed written document of which a copy lies with Kashmir Convener, that while the seized consignments have been destroyed, the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, does not provide for the lodging of First Information Reports (FIRs) in such cases.

Instead, authorities have initiated strict penal and regulatory actions against the defaulting FBOs under the provisions of the Act. This enforcement has led to the issuance of 102 improvement notices and the suspension of 14 licenses.

To curb the import and sale of illegal meat consignments, the department has implemented several key measures. These include, The issuance of public notices and a specific prohibition order to restrict the manufacture, storage, and sale of frozen meat products that do not conform to FSSAI standards.

The launch of special sampling and inspection drives across the UT.

The organization of public awareness campaigns to promote the sale and consumption of hygienic meat.

Addressing concerns about inspections at key entry points like Lakhanpur and Lower Munda, the government stated that the changes are part of a strategic policy shift. The move transitions from traditional physical checkpoints to a technology-enabled, risk-based enforcement model aimed at improving trade efficiency.

“The transition is aligned with national policy directions and is intended to enhance transparency, reduce delays, and strengthen backend surveillance,” the department stated in the written reply, adding that inter-departmental coordination and intelligence-based enforcement continue to be prioritized the reply further reads.