Stricter Slaughter Norms Threaten West Bengal Leather Supplies

West Bengal's leather industry is facing potential supply disruptions due to stricter animal slaughter norms, impacting the availability of cow and buffalo hides. This situation poses challenges for a sector already burdened by weak global demand and logistical hurdles, with industry leaders expressing concerns over rising costs and worker livelihoods.

In West Bengal, the leather industry is concerned about potential disruptions in its raw material supplies as the state government intensifies its enforcement of animal slaughter regulations. These stricter norms could jeopardize the availability of cow and buffalo hides, crucial for the industry's operations, particularly following Eid al-Adha festivities.

Strict adherence to slaughter restrictions has resulted in a noticeable reduction in the number of cows sacrificed during Eid, which traditionally boosts hide supplies. Indian Leather Products Association's Md Azhar emphasized that the situation exacerbates existing challenges in an already strained sector, facing dwindling global demand and logistic issues.

Heightened scrutiny under the West Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act 1950 involves rigorous checks on cattle transportation and sales practices. This regulatory environment, affecting primarily Kolkata's leather manufacturing cluster, threatens to inflate raw material costs further amid geopolitical trade issues.

Despite the hurdles, stakeholders, including Leather Exports Council Chairman Ramesh Kumar Juneja, are hopeful, noting that increased imports could help bridge the gap. Nonetheless, with almost half of India's raw hides already imported, a further decline in local supply could heighten reliance on international markets.