Leather exporters to appeal government to exclude buffaloes from cattle ban list

By

Maverick Martins

Published
May 31, 2017

India’s leather exporters that have been severely hit by the environment ministry’s decision to ban buying or selling of cattle at animal markets for slaughtering to prevent cruelty to animals are planning to appeal to the environment ministry to allow trading of buffaloes.

"Only the buffalo is of concern to us because that was allowed for slaughter. We are only asking for the exclusion of buffalo from the notification," said Aqeel Panaruna, vice chairman of the Council for Leather Exports told the Economic Times.

Global brands who depend on India for importing raw material are also worried following the ban and are closely monitoring the situation. Leather exporters fear that global brands might look to other markets like China and Bangladesh due to shortage of raw material in India.

The Federation of Indian Export Organisations took up the issue with the commerce ministry. Ministry officials said they will look into the concerns raised with regard to availability of inputs for exports.

Of the $5.66 billion leather exports in 2016-17, most were made from buffalo skin. The environment ministry’s May 26 notification banned trading of cows, bulls, buffaloes, heifers, calves and camels, triggering an alarm among exporters, who said trading of buffaloes should be allowed, just as it is done in the case of goats and sheep.

"The situation will stabilise if buffalo is excluded from the ban," a government official said on condition of anonymity.

A final decision on the cattle ban is expected to be taken once Prime Minister Narendra Modi is back from his foreign trip.

The Government is also planning to revive the leather industry and has earmarked a Rs 4000 package for the same.