Cabinet approves Draft Bill to ensure quality control of cattle feed to boost milk production
The Punjab Cabinet has approved a new draft Bill for enactment in the ongoing Vidhan Sabha session to ensure quality control of cattle feed, with the aim of boosting milk production.
"The Punjab Regulation of Compounded Cattle-feed, Concentrates & Mineral Mixtures Act, 2018" seeks to exercise quality control on compounded cattle feed, concentrates & mineral mixtures used in the dairy sector.
The new legislation will amend the earlier legislations on the subject, according to an official spokesperson.
The state government had promulgated the Punjab Regulation of Compounded Cattle-feed, Concentrates & Mineral Mixtures Order, 1988, which was issued under Essential Commodities Act, 1955. The department had been taking action under this Order to exert quality control on compounded cattle feed, concentrates and mineral mixtures.
Notably, the Government of India, through Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2006 amended Essential Commodities Act, 1955, omitted Clause-A of Section-2. Clause (A) (i) of Section-2 of the Act covered cattle fodder including oil cakes and other concentrates. This led to removal of cattle fodder, including oil cakes and other concentrates, from the jurisdiction of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
However, with dairy sector growing manifold in Punjab, the need was felt to bring in quality control for cattle feed. The main objective of the new legislation will be to regulate manufacturing, distribution, storage and sale of cattle feed concentrates and mineral mixtures in the state.
Every manufacturer and dealer would be under obligation to register themselves to fulfill the laid down standards. In case of any violation, they would be liable for penalty under the provisions of new Act.
