The Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services’ notification making transport certificates and health clearances mandatory for live poultry entering Goa was long overdue. At a time when overcrowded crates, diseased birds and unhygienic inter-state transportation remain serious concerns, especially when health has evolved as a crucial subject in the State, the move brings some much-needed accountability to an otherwise poorly regulated process.
By invoking the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Mukhyamantri Swayampurna Goa Poultry Development Policy, 2025, the government has taken a step in the right direction. But a sound policy means little if it cannot be upheld on the ground. In Goa, enforcement at the borders has long been a weak link, with checkposts often appearing as mere passage points instead of being effective check points.
The problem, ultimately, is not just the absence of rules but the credibility of those entrusted with enforcing them. Checkposts have repeatedly faced flak over allegations of corruption. The Anti-Corruption Bureau’s surprise raids at the Mollem and Patradevi excise checkposts during Vigilance Awareness Week offer a shining example. The exercise, which should have reinforced public confidence in the government’s anti-corruption efforts, raised more questions than it answered. Unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 10,570 was found at Mollem and another Rs 2,500 at Patradevi. Yet, no immediate bribery cases were registered, and the matter appeared to end with mere questioning.
Leave alone the cash seized, contraband and illicit liquor have been passing through Goa’s borders with complete ease. The Polem checkpost, in particular, has faced scrutiny after Karnataka authorities intercepted trucks carrying illegal consignments that had apparently travelled through border areas without being stopped by Goan officials. In one instance, liquor worth Rs 18.72 lakh was concealed beneath sacks of potatoes. In other cases, trucks carrying thousands of litres of illicit liquor were intercepted only after crossing into Karnataka.
Such incidents make a mockery of border checks. If heavily loaded commercial vehicles carrying large quantities of contraband can pass through Goa’s checkposts without attracting attention, there is little reason to assume that officials will diligently examine veterinary certificates. Expecting rigorous enforcement under these circumstances would be wishful thinking.
That said, the new notification addresses a genuine gap. Until now, the entry of live poultry from neighbouring states lacked adequate checks, leaving local markets vulnerable to health risks. Making veterinary health certificates and transport clearances compulsory, while insisting on compliance with the Bureau of Indian Standards’ IS 5238:2001 code, is a welcome move. It establishes a clearer trail of accountability for suppliers and transporters and gives authorities a mechanism to identify violations before poultry reaches local markets. The measure also complements the Food and Drugs Administration’s recent market inspections and crackdowns by shifting some of the focus from detecting problems after the fact to preventing them at the point of entry.
Goa needs a watertight system that leaves no vehicle unchecked, regardless of who mans the checkpost. Body cameras, digital tracking of certificates and independent monitoring of border operations could make enforcement more transparent. The real test of this policy will not be the notification itself; it will be on what happens at the borders. If Goa is serious about protecting public health, it must begin by restoring integrity to the very checkposts expected to enforce these directives. Before streamlining the supply chain, the State government must get the border checkpoints in order.
