Karnataka act 031 of 2025 : The KARNATAKA ANIMAL FEED (REGULATION OF MANUFACTURE AND QUALITY CONTROL) ACT, 2025

KARNATAKA ACT NO. 31 OF 2025

THE KARNATAKA ANIMAL FEED (REGULATION OF MANUFACTURE AND

QUALITY CONTROL) ACT, 2025

Arrangement of Sections

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

Sections:

1. Short title and commencement

2. Definitions

3. Controlling Authority

4. Licensing Authority

5. Powers of Licensing Authority

6. Application for license

7. Grant of license

8. Refuse to grant a license

9. Duplicate License Certificate

10. Cancellation of License

11. Expert Committee

12. Condition for manufacturing animal feed

13. Specifications or Standards regarding manufacturing animal feed

14. Regulation of sale of animal feed

15. Prohibition on manufacture of animal feed

16. Animal feed deemed to be adulterated

17. Animal feed deemed to be misbranded

18. Feed recall procedure

19. Animal feed analytical laboratories and referral laboratory

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20. Analysis of samples

21. Report of analytical laboratories of animal feed sample

22. Examination of Animal Feed

23. Seizure of suspected animal feed

24. Penalty for violation of the Act and rules

25. Appellate Authority

26. Protection of action taken in good faith

27. Maintenance of registers and records

28. On-line plat form

29. Power to remove difficulties

30. Powers to make rules

31. Repeal and savings

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS

Act 31 of 2025:- It is considered necessary to enact the Karnataka Animal Feed (Regulation of Manufacture and Quality Control) Bill, 2025 to,-

(i) give effect to mechanism to regulating and supervising manufacture and make available of quality animal feed in the State of Karnataka;

(ii) improve Health, longevity and performance of the animals which in turn increase the economic status of the farmer; and

(iii) provide good quality animal protein to human population by preventing the transmission of toxic substances in the animal

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feed which may affect health of animal and are likely to be carried to the animal products such as milk, meat and eggs thereby affecting the health of human beings.

Hence, the Bill.

[L.A. Bill No.21 of 2025, File No. SAMVYASHAE 10 SHASANA 2025] [Entry 15 of List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India.] [Published in Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary No.220 in part-IVA dated:07.04.2025]

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KARNATAKA ACT NO. 31 OF 2025

(First Published in the Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary on the 7^thday of April, 2025)

THE KARNATAKA ANIMAL FEED (REGULATION OF MANUFACTURE AND

QUALITY CONTROL) ACT, 2025

(Received the assent of the Governor on the 5^thday of April, 2025) An Act to provide a mechanism to regulate and supervise the manufacture of animal feed in the State of Karnataka. Whereas it is expedient to provide a mechanism to regulate and supervise the manufacture of animal feed in the State of Karnataka and for the matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Be it enacted by the Karnataka State Legislature in the Seventy sixth year of the Republic of India, as follows:-

1. Short title and commencement.- (1) This Act may be called the Karnataka Animal Feed (Regulation of Manufacture and Quality Control) Act,

2025.

(2) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification appoint.

2. Definitions.- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) "Adulterated feed" in relation to feed means any feed which;

(i) Does not conform to the declaration made regarding its nature, substance or quality; or

(ii) addition of an impure, cheap or unnecessary ingredient to cheat or cheapen a preparation; or

(iii) does not conform to the prescribed standards; or is spoiled or damaged or is fungus-infested and is harmful for animals;

(b) "Animal" includes any species of livestock and poultry;

(c) "Animal Feed" means any compounded product which is grounded, pelleted, crumbled, mash or extruded feed, balanced for various nutrients as per the laid down specification, intended to supply wholly or partly the nutritional requirements of animal which on being fed to them contribute to their maintenance, growth and productive capacity;

(d) "Animal feed inspection officer" means any officer of Animal Husbandry Department registered under the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984 (Central Act 52 of 1984) who is designated as Animal Feed inspection officer by the Controlling authority;

(e) "Animal feed analysis" means procedures of animal feed analysis to verify moisture, crude protein, crude fiber, Acid insoluble ash, Gross energy, amino acids and other parameters of animal feed sample;

(f) "Animal feed analyst" means the person carrying out the Animal feed analysis in the animal feed analysis laboratory;

(g) "Animal feed analytical laboratory" means the laboratory notified for the purpose of analyzing the samples of animal feed;

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(h) "Appellate authority" means the authority specified under section 25;

(i) "Compound feed" means any nutritionally balanced ground, pelleted, crumbled, mash or extruded feed intended for the feeding of animals.

(j) "Controlling Authority" means the authority specified under section 3;

(k) "Crumble" means pelleted feed reduced to granular form;

(l) "Expert Committee" means the Committee established under section 11;

(m) "Extruded feed" means feed manufactured by passing through high temperature for 15 seconds to remove the microbial load.

(n) "Feed mill" means an automatic or semi-automatic plant for manufacturing animal feed comprising of grinder, mixer, and other machineries with provision to store ingredients and final feed.

(o) "Firm" means a firm or partnership firm registered under the Indian Partnership Act, 1932, (Central Act 9 of 1932);

(p) "Government" means the Government of Karnataka;

(q) "Laboratory" means any laboratory authorized by the controlling Authority from time to time for the purpose of analyzing the samples of animal feed as under section 19;

(r) "License" means license granted under section 7;

(s) "Licensee" means a person or company or firm to whom a license has been granted to take up Animal feed manufacture.

(t) "Licensing Authority" means the officer who is empowered to grant license to Animal feed manufacture under this Act;

(u) "Livestock" means animals reared in an agricultural setting or on farm to produce commodities such as milk, manure, meat, fur, wool and leather.

(v) "Manufacturer" means the person or company or firm engaged in the manufacturing or processing of Animal feed;

(w) "Misbranded" means misuse of registered trade name;

(x) "Notification" means a notification published in the Karnataka Gazette and the word 'Notified' shall be construed accordingly;

(y) "Pellet" means agglomerated feed formed by compacting and forcing through die openings by any mechanical process;

(z) "Prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under the Act; (aa) "Referral Laboratory" means the Laboratory notified by the controlling authority for the purpose of analyzing the referral samples of animal feed in case of disputes; and

(ab) "Standard Animal feed" means any Animal feed complying standards prescribed under this Act;

3. Controlling Authority.- The Commissioner of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services shall be the Controlling Authority for the purpose of the Act;

4. Licensing Authority.- The Deputy Director (Polyclinic) of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services who is registered

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under the Indian Veterinary Council Act, 1984 (Central Act 52 of 1984) shall be the licensing authority in the concerned district.

5. Powers of Licensing Authority.- The licensing authority or Animal feed inspection officer authorized by controlling authority or any officer authorized on behalf may, with a view to securing compliance with the provisions of this Act,-

(a) enter upon and inspect any premises where Animal feed are manufactured or processed or stocked in manufacture unit, at any time during the business hours with a view to satisfying himself that the provisions of this Act are being complied with;

(b) on giving a proper receipt, seize or detain any Animal feed or raw material that is being processed, packed, labeled in manufacturing unit, contravention of the said provisions of the Act;

(c) collect samples of animal feed and feed ingredient for analysis of composition at an authorized laboratory;

(d) by an order in writing, impose temporary ban for a period not exceeding fifteen days on manufacture of animal feed in respect of which he has reasons to believe that any of the provisions of this Act has been contravened;

(e) every holder of a license certificate shall be bound by any direction or order issued by the licensing authority;

(f) the provisions of the Bharathiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Central Act 46 of 2023) relating to search and seizure shall, so far as may be, apply to searches and seizures under this section.

6. Application for license.- Any person desirous of obtaining license for carrying out the business of any animal feed manufacture shall make application to the licensing authority or an officer authorized on this behalf in such manner and subject to payment of such fees as may be prescribed:

Provided that, if any person was carrying out the business of Animal Feed manufacture without any license before commencement of this Act shall apply to the Licensing Authority within a period of three months from the date of commencement of this Act.

7. Grant of license.- (1) On receipt of an application for license under section 6, the licensing authority shall issue the same subject to fulfillment of such conditions as may be prescribed.

(2) The form of license certificate shall be in such manner as may be prescribed.

(3) Valid for a term not exceeding three years from the date of issue of license.

(4) Any holder of license carrying out the business of animal feed manufacture shall apply for renewal of license 30 days before the expiry of license in force to the Licensing Authority.

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8. Refuse to grant a license.- (1) The licensing authority may refuse to grant a license to any applicant if,-

(i) the application is defective in any respect;

(ii) the license fee has not been paid;

(iii) the applicant doesn't under take to manufacture or process the feed inconformity with the provisions of this Act and rules made thereunder;

(iv) the applicant is insolvent;

(v) whenever the license was cancelled; or

(vi) the applicant doesn't have the prescribed machinery.

(2) The Licensing Authority, while refusing to grant a license, shall specify the reasons for such refusal in his order and shall communicate the order to the applicant:

Provided that, the Licensing Authority shall not refuse the application for grant of license without giving an opportunity of being heard to the applicant and without recording the reasons for such refusal.

9. Duplicate License Certificate.- If a license certificate issued under this Act is defaced, lost or destroyed, the licensing authority may if satisfied, grant a duplicate license to the applicant in such manner and subject to payment of a fee as may be prescribed.

10. Cancellation of License.- (1) Where any person contravene any provisions of this Act and rules made thereunder, the licensing authority by order, can cancel the Licence granted under section 7.

(2) No order under sub-section (1) shall be made against the license except after notice to him to show cause within such period as may be specified in the notice as to why such order should not be made and except on his failure to show cause within such period or on his not showing sufficient cause.

(3) Where the licensing authority cancel any license issued in respect of any approved Animal feed under sub-section (1) such Animal feed manufactured by such licensee, shall seize to be an approved Animal feed;

(4) Every cancellation under sub-section (1) shall be by order published in the official Gazette and widely circulated in Kannada and English Newspaper.

11. Expert Committee.- The Government may by notification establish an Expert Committee to advise the Controlling Authority on all matters relating to licensing and quality control in Animal feed manufacture and to enforce the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder. The Committee shall consist of the following members, namely:-

1 The Director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Ex-officio Chairman Services, Bengaluru.

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(2) The committee established under sub-section (1) shall perform such functions as may be prescribed.

(3) The procedure to be followed at the meetings of the committee, honorarium payable to the non-official members shall be such as may be prescribed.

(4) The decision at the meetings of the committee shall be taken on the basis of simple majority.

12. Condition for manufacturing animal feed.- (1) A license holder shall not use,-

(i) Ingredients, such as, rice husk, caster husk or meal, jatropha cake or meal, ground nut hulls, saw dust and such other ingredients, as may be specified by the expert committee from time to time, for manufacture of Animal feed;

(ii) Ingredients of animal origin and mineral salts with low bio- availability, as may be specified by the expert committee from time to time, for manufacture of Animal feed;

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(iii) Urea or any other non-protein nitrogen compounds including ammonium salts for manufacture of feeds for young stock and poultry feed. However feed for adult cattle may contain urea, calcite powder and common salt as specified from time to time.

(2) The standard of Animal feed manufacture or process by a licensee shall be, as may be prescribed and every licensee shall be bound to adhere to the prescribed standards.

(3) No licensee shall manufacture any type of Animal feed unless it conforms to the prescribed standards.

(4) The Animal feed manufactured or processed by a licensee shall be tested in the prescribed manner.

13. Specifications or Standards regarding manufacturing animal feed.- (1) The manufacturer of Animal feed shall comply with the available Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)/Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) or Specifications recommended by Expert committee amended from time to time.

(2) In case BIS prepares standards for any new species, they shall be followed by the Animal feed manufacturers.

(3) In case of non-availability of BIS standards for any approved species, the Expert Committee constituted under section 11 shall approve new standards by following the procedure as may be prescribed.

(4) Label of Animal Feed bag shall consist of all the information or details as may be prescribed.

(5) The Animal feed shall not contain any prohibited antibiotics or pharmacologically active substances under any circumstances and shall be certified accordingly on the Animal feed bag.

(6) Other additional criteria or parameters to be complied by the manufacturers of Animal feed as may be prescribed.

14. Regulation of sale of animal feed.- No person shall sell animal feed unless purchased from authorized manufacturer which is manufactured as per the specifications under section 13.

15. Prohibition on manufacture of animal feed.- No person shall manufacture Animal feed,-

(a) If it contains any deleterious substance or toxins of anti nutritional factors or inert material in excess of the amounts as per the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS/ Indian Council for Agricultural Research ICAR specifications or as may be stipulated by the committee constituted under section 11;

(b) If adulterated or misbranding is detected;

(c) If in contravention or in violation of the provisions of this Act and rules thereunder;

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(d) No advertisement shall be made of any feed, which is misleading or deceiving or contravenes the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder; and

(e) If not using proper and adequate binding materials for pelleting.

16. Animal feed deemed to be adulterated.- Every Animal feed shall be deemed to be adulterated within the meaning of this Act, if its composition, strength, quality and purity fails to confirm to the standards prescribed under this Act.

17. Animal feed deemed to be misbranded.- An Animal feed shall be deemed to be misbranded within the meaning of this Act,-

(a) If the print on any container or the label or package of any Animal feed bears any statement, device that is false, misleading, deceptive or likely to create an erroneous impression, regarding its composition, strength, quality, purity and safety;

(b) If it is an imitation or substitution to resemble in such a manner as is likely to deceive another Animal feed under the name by manufacturer;

(c) If it is stated to be a product of a place or country of which it is not truly a product; and

(d) If it is not printed or labeled in accordance with the requirements under this Act.

18. Feed recall procedure.- (1) If a feed manufacturer considers or has reasons to believe that a feed which he has processed, manufactured is not incompliance with this Act, or the rules made thereunder, he shall immediately initiate procedures to withdraw the feed in question from the market indicating reasons for its withdrawal and inform the competent authorities thereof.

(2) A feed manufacturer shall immediately inform the Licensing Authority and co-operate with them, if he considers or has reasons to believe that a feed which he has placed on the market may be unsafe.

19. Animal feed analytical laboratories and referral laboratory.- The controlling authority may notify animal feed analytical laboratories and referral laboratory.

20. Analysis of samples.- (1) On receipt of Complaint regarding quality of any Animal feed, an authorized officer shall in the presence of the manufacturer, or the agent of such manufacturer, as the case may be, obtain a sample and shall forthwith his intention to submit such samples for analysis and forthwith divide the samples into three equal parts and cause each part to be marked and sealed separately in such manner as its nature will permit and shall deliver one of part to the manufacturer, or the agent as the case may be, and one part to the notified laboratory and shall retain one part with the Licensing Authority.

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(2) In the event of dispute in respect of the result of an analysis, the licensing authority or authorized officer shall forward the samples in custody of licensing authority to Referral Laboratory in such manner as may be prescribed.

(3) If any prosecution under this Act, the certificate of analysis issued by the referral laboratory shall be the conclusive evidence of the facts specified therein.

21. Report of analytical laboratories of animal feed sample.- The Officer-in-charge of Animal Feed Analytical Laboratory upon receipt of the sample shall analyze and deliver the report of analysis in such manner subject to payment of such fee as may be prescribed.

22. Examination of Animal Feed.- An officer not below the rank of Veterinary officer of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services authorized by the Government shall have a right to examine any Animal feed and forward such samples to the laboratory for analysis and report.

23. Seizure of suspected animal feed.- An authorized officer, if he has reason to believe that any Animal feed manufactured is in violation of the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, shall seize, hold such Animal feed until a sample is analyzed in referral laboratory and orders are issued by the Controlling Authority for its disposal. Such animal feed seized under this section may at the option of the authorized officer, be kept or stored in the building or placed where it was seized, or be removed to any place as may be determined by the Controlling Authority.

24. Penalty for violation of the Act and rules.- Whoever contravenes any of the provisions under sections 12,13,14,15,16 and 17 of this Act and rules made thereunder for not obtaining the license, may be punished with an imprisonment which may extend up to three months and with a fine of rupees five thousand or with both.

25. Appellate Authority.- (1) The Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Government of Karnataka shall be the Appellate Authority.

(2) Any person aggrieved by an order of the licensing authority refusing the grant of a license, cancelling a license under the provisions of this Act, may appeal to the Appellate Authority within thirty days from the date of receipt of order.

(3) No order shall be made unless an aggrieved person has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard.

(4) The Appellate Authority shall dispose the appeal within ninety days from the date of its receipt in such manner as may be prescribed.

(5) The decision of the Appellate Authority upon an appeal shall be final and conclusive for all purposes what so ever, and shall not be called in question in any Court of law.

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26. Protection of action taken in good faith.- No suit, claim prosecution or other legal proceedings shall be instituted against any person for any act done in good faith or purported to have been done under this Act or any rules made thereunder.

27. Maintenance of registers and records.- The licensing authority may, by order in writing direct any approved manufacturer to maintain such books, accounts and records relating to his business and in such form as may be prescribed.

28. On-line plat form.- An Online plat form may also be made available for issue of license and other procedures under this Act.

29. Power to remove difficulties.- (1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act the Government may by order, published in the official Gazette, make such provisions as appear to it to be necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty:

Provided that, no such order shall be made under this section after the expiry of the period of two years from the date of commencement of this Act.

(2) Every order made under sub-section (1) shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature.

30. Powers to make rules.- (1) The Government may, by previous notification, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

(2) Every rule or notification made under this Act shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions and if before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or notification or both Houses agree that the rule or notification should not be made the rule or notification shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect as the case may be; however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without, prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule or notification.

31. Repeal and savings.- The Karnataka Poultry and Livestock feed (Regulation of Manufacture and Sale) Order, 1987 is hereby repealed:

Provided that, the provisions of section 6 of the Karnataka General Clauses Act, 1899 (Karnataka Act III of 1899) shall be applicable in respect of the repeal of the said order and sections 8 and 24 of the said Act shall be applicable as if the said order had been repealed and enacted by this Act.

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The above translation of ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಪಶು ಆಹಾರ (ಉತ್ಪಾ ದನೆ ಮತ್ತು ಗುಣಮಟಟ ನಿಯಂತ್ರ ಣದ ವಿನಿಯಮನ) ಅಧಿನಿಯಮ, 2025 (2025 ರ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಅಧಿನಿಯಮ ಸಂಖೆ್ಯ :

31) be published in the official Gazette under clause (3) of Article 348 of the constitution of India.

THAAWARCHAND GEHLOT

GOVERNOR OF KARANATAKA

By Order and in the name of the Governor of Karnataka,

G. SRIDHAR

Secretary to Government Department of Parliamentary Affairs and Legislation

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