Will chicken be available this Sunday? Traders announce statewide sales halt over feed rule violations
The Tamil Nadu Chicken Traders Federation has announced that broiler chicken sales across the State will be suspended from July 31 to protest what it describes as repeated violations of government-mandated poultry handling norms.
Federation president B. Durairaj said poultry producers have not been following the rule requiring feed to be withheld for eight to 12 hours before birds are transported for slaughter.
According to traders, continuing to feed birds until they are loaded increases their weight artificially, leading to higher costs for retailers and ultimately consumers.
Durairaj claimed the additional feed adds roughly 100 grams to each bird. While producers spend only ₹3 to ₹4 on the extra feed, traders end up paying ₹10 to ₹12 more because pricing is based on weight.
The federation said the government introduced the guidelines in 2024 to improve hygiene by reducing waste produced during transportation and processing.
Traders argue that birds transported immediately after feeding create sanitation problems in vehicles and retail shops, increasing cleaning costs and affecting food safety standards.
Members of the Chennai Poultry Wholesalers Association also said feed remaining in the digestive system contributes to contamination during transport.
Hotels and retailers have already been informed about the proposed suspension so they can make alternative arrangements. A decision regarding the closure of chicken retail outlets in Chennai is expected on July 29.
The federation estimated that around 1.24 crore kilograms of chicken are sold in Chennai every day.
It clarified that the protest is aimed at encouraging compliance from poultry producers rather than targeting the Tamil Nadu Food Safety Department. The organization has requested the State government to facilitate discussions between traders and producers. Chicken traders in Puducherry have extended support for the protest, while counterparts in Kerala are expected to announce their position soon.