Indian government defers cow slaughter ban
The Indian government has deferred the country’s proposed ban on cow slaughter following strong protests made by parties in Parliament yesterday.
It is feared the planned Prevention of Cruelty to Cows Bill, 2003 could cause leather exports to decline 30%, costing the leather industry $700 million and affecting the livelihood of around 1.5 million people.
Currently, 60% of total rawhide available in the country comes from slaughtered cows, 30% is from fallen animals and 10% is from imports.
When asked if increased imports of hides could provide compensation once the bill is enacted, the chairman of the Council of Leather Exports, S S Kumar, said: “Imports of hide can go up, but this would make Indian leather products uncompetitive globally.”
The president of the Indian Leather Products Association, M V Kulkarni, commented: “The impact of the ban will be significant as around 60% of world’s bovine population is in
Leather industry sources believe the country’s fashion and industrial garments industries, which required high quality hides, will be worst hit by the ban.
