Meat sellers in Lagos to now submit a ‘veterinary health certificate for trade of meat’

The Lagos State Government has directed the major food vendors, who sell meat in the state, to henceforth submit a ‘veterinary health certificate for trade of meat’ to the inspecting veterinary personnel in the state Ministry of Agriculture.

Prince Gbolahan Lawal, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, made the announcement on Sunday, in Lagos.

Gbolahan said that the state government would confirm the certificates to ascertain that the animal had been duly slaughtered under hygienic conditions.

He noted that this policy, apart from being part of the new strategies the government was adopting, was also aimed at sanitising the meat value chain.

Gbolahan said that the policy was in conformity with Section 4, Cap M3, Meat Inspection Law of Lagos State and the Fourth Schedule (Regulation 33) of the Law.

He added that the policy change was informed by reports about the terrible state of sanitary affairs in some abattoirs in the state and the embarrassment it could cause for the image of the state and the confidence in the meat value chain.