Union Minister Dr Sanjeev Balyan inaugurates Animal Quarantine Certification Services in Bengaluru

Tags: place in news National State News

The Union Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal husbandry & dairying, Dr Sanjeev Kumar Balyan inaugurated the Animal Quarantine Certification Services (AQCS) at Hessarghata, Bengaluru as part of the National Milk Day celebration 2022. 

There are six AQCS in the countries under the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare. These six AQCS are near International Airports in the city of New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad.

Purpose and scope of the AQCS

The purpose and scope of setting up of Quarantine Stations is to prevent the spread of dangerous exotic diseases into the country through imported livestock and livestock products. 

There are many infectious diseases of livestock which are prevalent in other countries but not present in India. It is therefore necessary that such exotic diseases do not gain entry into our country through movement of livestock and livestock products from across the borders.  

Thus there is a need to check the imported animals including pets like dogs and cats to be sure that they don't carry any such dangerous pathogens. Hence Quarantine stations are set up where they can be checked before being released in India.

To deal with this problem the Government of India initiated a central sector scheme namely “Animal Quarantine & Certification Services” (AQCS) during the Fourth Five Year Plan (1969-70).