The Hindu 23.08.2013
Pet shops come under trade licence regime
The trades of manufacturing and sale of food, articles for pet animals have been included in the existing trades list of the Chennai Corporation. The State government has notified the trade under the category of micro cottage industries. The licence fee for shops that have an area of upto 1000 sq ft will be Rs. 2000. Shops larger than 1000 sq ft will pay a fee of Rs. 5000. The notification was published as per Section 98-A of Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act, 1919.
The proposal would be taken for consideration by the Chennai Corporation after 30 days from the day of publication. Hence, any objection in this regard would be received within 30 days for consideration. The Corporation Council, in its meeting a few months ago, made a decision on including pet shops in the trade licence net and commenced steps to regularise such shops. So far, the shops were not covered under trade licence net, causing problems pertaining to abandoned pets.
The pet shops include those selling exotic breeds of dogs, cats, birds and fish. The application for trade licence will be scrutinised by Corporation officials. A copy of the application for trade licence by pet shops should also be sent to the Animal Welfare Board of India. The traders will have to renew the trade licence every two years by remitting a fee of Rs.1,000. “The corporation should increase the trade licence. This will promote responsible pet ownership,” said Vijay Philip, a trader and consultant for pets.
The inclusion of pet shops in the list of trades may reinforce existing mechanisms of ensuring minimum standards of sanitation, drainage, ventilation, heating, cooling, humidity, special and enclosure requirements, nutrition, medical treatment and methods of operations.
The move will help ensure minimum standards of sanitation, drainage and nutrition in these establishments.
