03/11/2023
How Dangerous are Illicit Cattle? To What Extent Can They Cause Harm? By: Mr. Sarawut Montanom.
Indian buffalo meat comes from India, which is home to more than 245 million cattle, but due to religious beliefs, many Indians do not consume beef, which is why they primarily use the hides. However, the meat and carcasses are exported to various countries. Currently, the illegal importation of meat from India is a matter of great concern.
Due to the fact that the majority of cattle in India are often raised free-range, and the slaughterhouses do not always meet high standards, there is a risk of various diseases being introduced through imports and consumption. This poses an economic risk in Thailand, as illicit Indian buffalo meat is priced very low, and its clandestine entry into the Thai market directly affects the domestic beef market. This impact is evident in both reduced prices and the decreased demand for locally slaughtered cattle in the country.
As a result, cattle farmers in the country are directly impacted. The illicit trade of Indian buffalo meat from neighboring countries along the border poses a significant challenge. In addition to the clandestine importation of live cattle, there are also various other illicit channels for the trade.
Therefore, there are several clandestine routes for the trade of Indian buffalo meat:
1.Overland Route: Indian buffalo meat is clandestinely transported through Malaysia into Thailand, passing through Narathiwat, Songkhla, and Satun, where it is stored in cold storage facilities before being sent to Bangkok.
2.Maritime Route: The meat is transported via ships along the Andaman Sea coast, Gulf of Thailand, and landed at ports in Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkhram.
3.Air Route: High-quality beef is imported clandestinely from Japan. If imported legally, it commands a high price. Therefore, it is sometimes smuggled in luggage and sold to restaurants, posing a risk due to the potential presence of significant diseases in the meat.
Due to non-standard practices in cattle farming and slaughtering, there may be significant risks associated with important diseases, including:
1.Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE): This disease, also known as "mad cow disease," can infect humans if they consume products from infected cattle, such as brain, nerves, or spinal cord. In humans, it leads to a severe brain disease called "variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease." Symptoms are severe and include memory loss, loss of self-awareness, and pulmonary infections, among other complications, often resulting in death.
2.Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD): This disease causes substantial harm to cattle. Infected cattle exhibit symptoms such as fever, salivation, difficulty in eating, the appearance of vesicles on the mouth, tongue, and feet, and lameness. When vesicles rupture, they often become infected with bacteria, resulting in slow-healing wounds, extreme weight loss, and a significant decrease in milk production.
In cattle, the disease infection rate can be as high as 100%, with a mortality rate of 0.2-5%. In calves, the mortality rate can reach 50-70%. Importing or dealing with animals or carcasses without permission is a legal offense, punishable by up to 2 years in prison or a fine not exceeding 200,000 Baht, or both. Avoiding customs duties carries a penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment or a fine not exceeding 500,000 Baht, or both, according to the Customs Act.
