MEAT FOOD PRODUCTS ORDER (MFPO)

• Meat is one of the oldest food items of human beings.
• Initially, it was taken raw but later began to be processed to satisfy the palate and provide preservative action.
• Meat is a highly perishable commodity, requiring sanitary conditions and utmost hygienic measures.
• In 1973, the Government of India promulgated an Order to enforce strict quality control under the Essential Commodities Act 1955.
• The responsibility to enforce the Order was entrusted to the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection, Ministry of Agriculture.
• The Agricultural Marketing Advisor is the ex-officio Chairman of the Meat Food Products Advisory Committee.
• The Order ensures:
  • Sanitary conditions in slaughterhouses
  • Proper antemortem and postmortem inspections
  • In-process inspections and final product checking
• No person can carry on business as a manufacturer without a license under this Order.
• All meat-processing units producing meat food products for sale come under its purview.
• Restaurants and hotels preparing meat for consumption within their premises are exempted.
• Raw (chilled or frozen) meat is not covered under this Order.

Schedules under the Meat Food Products Order, 1973

The First Schedule:

• Deals with application for license or renewal.
• Information required includes:
  • Applicant's details, factory address
  • Source of raw materials
  • Description of products, installed capacity
  • Factory plan and equipment list

The Second Schedule:

• Deals with minimum sanitary requirements.
• Includes instructions for:
  • Factory premises, construction, plumbing, drainage
  • Equipment, cold storage, water supply
  • Personnel hygiene and vaccination

The Third Schedule:

• Deals with hygienic requirements for factories also slaughtering animals.
• Includes:
  • Separation of clean and dirty sections
  • Antemortem and postmortem inspections
  • Disposal of condemned carcasses

The Fourth Schedule:

• Deals with packaging, marking, and labeling of containers.
• Includes:
  • Proper packing and sealing of containers
  • Limits on poisonous elements in canned products

At present, there are more than 220 licensed units manufacturing 185 types of meat food products in India under MFPO regulations.

Thus, the MFPO plays a major role in safeguarding consumer interests.