Centre withdraws rules to regulate fish, aquarium markets

The Centre has withdrawn rules brought in May this year which sought to regulate fish and aquarium markets, according to a government notification.

Under these rules, the aquarium owners and their establishments were required to register themselves.

The government has withdrawn the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Aquarium and Fish Tank Animal Shop) Rules, 2017, the notification issued on November 30 said.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (59 of 1960), except as respects things done or omitted to be done before such withdrawal, the central government, hereby withdraws the notification number G.S.R. 493(E), dated the May 23, 2017," it said.

The Union Environment Ministry, however, clarified that the consideration process to make certain changes to a notification which bans the sale and purchase of cattle at animal markets for slaughter "was still on and the file (related to the ban on cattle for slaughter) was still with the Law Ministry".

When asked about media reports doing rounds that the Centre has withdrawn the notification to ban the sale and purchase of cattle at animal markets for slaughter, a top Environment Ministry official told PTI, "The file is still with the Law Ministry. This (November 30 notification) pertains to the aquarium and fish tank animal shop rules."

To a question on the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Aquarium and Fish Tank Animal Shop) Rules, 2017, the official said that the ministry will have a "relook" at the rules.

The ministry had recently said that it is "considering" making certain changes to the notification which bans the sale and purchase of cattle at animal markets for slaughter, to make it more "acceptable".

The Environment Ministry had in May notified that the stringent Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Under the rules, there was a ban on the sale and purchase of cattle at animal markets for slaughter, a move that was expected to hit the trade and export of meat and leather.

The rules had also prohibited practices cruel to animals, including the painting of horns and putting ornaments or decorative materials on them.