New regulations for poultry health in India

The government would also launch an awareness campaign to urge producers to adopt the measures introduced, according to Charusheela Sohoni, secretary of the department of animal husbandry and dairying, at the agriculture ministry.

Sohoni was speaking at the ‘National Conference on Challenges for the Indian Poultry Sector — Post-Avian Influenza’ organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

She said that the government would strongly consider the industry’s perspective in shaping its action plan in keeping with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) guidelines. These measures will ensure the quality of poultry products and production chain.

“Each importing country has its own requirements that have become more stringent after the outbreak of avian influenza with regard to environment, animal welfare, packaging, pesticide residues, etc,” the official added.

The poultry industry faces challenges on other fronts as well. These include the availability, cost and quality of raw material, especially feed, the official said.

India is the fifth-largest producer of poultry meat in the world. The poultry industry has been growing steadily producing 1,800 million kg of meat and 42 billion eggs every year. It provides employment to 3 million people.