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Oyo State Government has launched digital certification of all chickens to be slaughtered for public consumption across the state.
The initiative, whose implementation will commence in September, will ensure that all chickens to be slaughtered for public consumption are digitally certified by veterinary doctors, is aimed at improving public health.
According to a document seen by Newspeakonline, companies and individuals slaughtering chickens for public consumption will begin to present certificates of clean bill of health for each chicken being slaughtered to government officials saddled with enforcement of the new policy.
To achieve success of the policy, the state government has engaged Ensapuh Veterinary Services Limited as the sole consultant to conduct veterinary chicken inspection at all chicken processing plants in the state.
The company, which has several veterinary doctors in its employment, will inspect and certify every chicken to be slaughtered as fit for human consumption.
Speaking, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Dr. Adebayo Awoyele, explained that the certification process has been digitized for convenience, speed and credibility.
According to him, the process will be carried out using a technology device christened Meat Guard. The technology was developed by the company for speed, accuracy and reliability.
He said: Meat Guard is the first and only technology-based veterinary meat inspection solution in Nigeria developed by Ensapuh Veterinary Services Limited.
“Meat Guard combines veterinary public health and technology to ensure the Nigerian meat products are safe for consumers and profitable for players in the meat value chain.
“Electronic veterinary health certificate for meat products puts food safety verification right in the hands of consumers.”
Commenting on the initiative, the Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye, also explained that public health is at the centre of the need for the initiative.
He said the initiative will help ascertain the condition under which poultry are produced for human consumption and the suitability of the meat itself for human consumption.
The commissioner disclosed that the government partnered with the consultant to bring effectiveness to the process, stressing that the automation by Ensapuh Limited was the game changer.
“The automation will remove human error and influence as well as ease the process of certifying the meat for human consumption,” he said.
Olaleye said the ministry was already engaging stakeholders to ensure that they embrace the initiative.
“There is an existing law backing our effort but this is a democratic government. We are working for the people, hence our policies have human face. It is the reason we are first having dialogue with stakeholders to let them understand what we are doing. And we will continue to engage them so we can succeed. It is all about protecting public health,” he added.
Chicken processing plants will pay a token for certification of each meat to be sold to the public.