Bihar Bans Public Sale of Fish and Meat

The Bihar government is set to extend its regulatory measures following the earlier prohibition on alcohol, introducing a strict ban on the public sale of fish and meat across the state. The announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha on Tuesday, 17 February, who stated that the move aims to safeguard public health and respect social sensitivities.

Under the new rules, public sale of fish and meat will be prohibited in all areas accessible to the general public. Only vendors holding a valid government licence will be permitted to sell these products in compliance with official directives. “The new regulation must be strictly enforced,” Deputy Chief Minister Sinha emphasised. “Legal action will be taken against anyone found violating the law. The government has already formulated a formal notification, which will be implemented shortly.” However, he did not disclose the precise date when the rule would come into effect, nor the specific nature of penalties for non-compliance.

The decision has received backing from Union Minister Giriraj Singh, who welcomed the initiative, describing it as a commendable step. He further instructed district administrations to play an active role in ensuring effective enforcement of the regulation.

Bihar’s move follows a similar measure by the Uttar Pradesh government in March last year, which prohibited the sale of meat within 500 metres of religious sites. Experts note that such restrictions serve both public health objectives and the preservation of social and religious sensitivities.

In addition to restricting public sales, the new regulation will formalise operating procedures for licensed vendors, promoting transparency in local markets and strengthening legal oversight. Analysts suggest that the policy, if implemented effectively, will benefit both consumers and traders while substantially reducing instances of illegal trade.

The table below summarises the key aspects of Bihar’s new regulation:

Officials have emphasised that the new regulation represents a significant step towards protecting public health, maintaining social and religious sensitivities, and ensuring orderly and lawful market practices. Proper enforcement, experts argue, could provide a structured framework for local trade while curbing unregulated commercial activity.