Muslim body calls for ban on meat from outside J&K amid halal concerns

A committee formed by the Muttahida Majlis-e-Ulema (MMU)—a conglomerate of major religious bodies in Jammu and Kashmir—has called on authorities to intensify monitoring of meat and poultry supply chains in the region, amid growing concerns over the quality and halal compliance of imported products.

In a statement issued after a high-level meeting held in Srinagar under the chairmanship of the Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, the MMU urged local businesses in the hospitality and food sectors to immediately cease the purchase, sale, and serving of slaughtered poultry and meat imported from outside the region. Instead, the committee recommended that all such products be sourced locally to ensure adherence to Islamic dietary laws.

The meeting was attended by several prominent religious scholars, including Mufti Nazir Ahmad Qasmi, Mufti Abdul Rashid Miftahi, and Maulana Showkat Hussain Keng. The committee expressed deep concern over reports suggesting that a significant portion of poultry imported into the Valley does not meet halal standards.

“Ensuring that only halal-certified meat and poultry are consumed and served in our Valley is both a religious obligation and a moral duty. The community must act collectively to safeguard this responsibility,” said Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam.

The issue has gained urgency in the wake of enforcement drives earlier this year. In August, authorities confiscated nearly 13,000 kilograms of meat and related products across the Valley, much of which was found to be rotten, improperly labelled, or lacking clear sourcing information. These revelations sparked public outrage and disrupted operations at numerous local eateries and restaurants.

Following detailed discussions, the MMU committee unanimously appealed to hotel and restaurant owners, meat dealers, and food business operators to discontinue the use of imported slaughtered meat and poultry and to support local producers instead.

The MMU also urged government authorities and regulatory bodies to strengthen monitoring of meat and poultry supply chains, enforce halal compliance, and offer greater support to local farmers and producers engaged in the halal food sector.