Delhi High Court rules FSSAI cannot ban meat and bone meal in animal feed

INDIA – The Delhi High Court has struck down a directive from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) prohibiting the use of meat or bone meal in feed for milk- and meat-producing animals, ruling that the agency lacks authority to regulate animal feed. 

The judgment, delivered by Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, declared that the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, do not extend to feed for cattle and other livestock. 

The related FSSAI directives and regulations are beyond the power of the law.

The case was brought to court by Godrej Agrovet Ltd, one of India’s leading animal nutrition companies. 

The company argued that FSSAI’s directive exceeded its legal mandate, which is limited to food for human consumption, and that regulating feed for food-producing animals falls outside its jurisdiction. 

Godrej Agrovet sought clarity on the legal status of animal feed ingredients, including meat and bone meal, which have traditionally been used to enhance protein content in livestock diets.

“FSSAI’s orders demanding compliance with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications for commercial feed were also invalidated, as adherence to these standards is voluntary,” the court noted. 

The decision effectively removes regulatory uncertainty around the use of meat and bone meal in livestock feed, offering relief to feed manufacturers and farmers.

The role of meat and bone meal in animal feed

Meat and bone meal is a high-protein feed ingredient commonly used in ruminant and non-ruminant diets to provide essential amino acids, calcium, and phosphorus. 

These nutrients support growth, milk production, and overall health in livestock.

Removing bone meal from feed could reduce dietary protein quality and mineral availability, potentially impacting animal performance and productivity.

Nutritionists argue that meat and bone meal remains a cost-effective source of digestible protein and critical minerals. 

Its elimination would require substitution with plant-based proteins, such as soybean meal, which may increase feed costs and alter nutrient balance. 

For dairy cattle, for example, bone meal contributes to skeletal development and lactation performance, while for meat-producing animals, it supports growth rates and feed efficiency.

By overturning the FSSAI directive, the Delhi High Court has reaffirmed the legal separation between human food regulation and livestock feed oversight, preserving the use of meat and bone meal as a key feed additive in India’s animal nutrition industry.

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