Chandigarh: The municipal corporation’s general house Thursday approved the revised Meat, Fish, Poultry Shops and Commercial Food Establishment Bye-Laws, 2026, with councillors unanimously making the penalties for sale of prohibited meat significantly tougher.The house increased the proposed fine for the sale, storage and processing of prohibited meat, cow flesh and beef from ₹50,000 to Rs 5 lakh. It also approved a provision for registration of FIRs under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in such cases.During the discussion, councillors across party lines sought stricter action against the illegal sale of meat and meat products in different parts of the city. They pointed out that meat was being cut and sold in the open at several locations, raising concerns over hygiene and compliance with food safety norms.Responding to the concerns, officials said the revised bye-laws contain several new provisions aimed at regulating the trade more effectively and imposing stronger penalties on violators.Among the key provisions, the draft mandates that central FSSAI licences will remain operational only with an annual no-objection certificate (NOC) from the MC. It also requires slaughter of sheep, goats and pigs only at the MC’s modern slaughterhouse in Industrial Area Phase I, besides mandatory official ink stamping and preservation of invoices for 30 days.The bye-laws further prescribe stricter sanitary standards, including air-conditioned preparation and handling units, marble workstations, deep freezers operating below minus 18 degrees Celsius and dedicated segregation of pork products.To strengthen enforcement, the draft provides for structured compounding penalties, confiscation of products and immediate sealing of shops and kitchens in cases of violations.The approved draft bye-laws will now be placed in the public domain for 15 days to invite objections and suggestions from residents. Thereafter, they will be brought back before the general House for final consideration before notification.Box:Key Changes In Draft Bye-LawsFine for sale, storage or processing of prohibited meat, cow flesh and beef raised to ₹5 lakhProvision for FIR registration under relevant BNS sectionsAnnual MC NOC mandatory for FSSAI licence holdersSlaughter of sheep, goats and pigs only at MC slaughterhouseMandatory ink stamping and 30-day invoice preservationAir-conditioned processing units and deep freezers below −18°CPowers to confiscate products and seal shops for violations
