Rwanda National Police

Rwanda National Police (RNP) impounded an unlicensed vehicle in Muhanga District on Monday, January 29, which was transporting about 900kgs of substandard meat.

Five people, including the alleged rightful owner of the illicit meat, were arrested.

Other suspects include those who were transporting from the bush where the animals were slaughtered to a point where the vehicle was parked, veterinary officer and another man, who had issued a forged document.

The Police spokesperson for the Southern region, Superintendent Police (SP) Emmanuel Habiyaremye, said that the vehicle was intercepted at about 2:30p.m, in Murambi Village, Ruli Cell Shyogwe Sector, enroute to Kigali.

"Police acted on credible information from residents about men, who were loading illicit meat in a vehicle in Cyeza sector, also in Muhanga District. The vehicle, which was operating on a forged meat transport document, was intercepted in Murambi Shyogwe Sector and five people were arrested," SP Habiyaremye said.

The suspected owner of uninspected meat operates a butchery in Nyarugenge District where he was allegedly selling substandard meat.

SP Habiyaremye said law enforcement organs and local leaders are working together to know the origin of the cows that were slaughtered.

"It is likely that the cows are among those that have been reported stolen in Muhanga and other districts. So far, 28 cows have been reported stolen in the Southern region over the past one month," the spokesperson said.

Article 3 in Ministerial order n°013/11.30 of 18/11/2010 on transport and trade of meat state, provides that a motor vehicle used in transportation of fresh, chilled or frozen, non-packed meat shall use closed vans, separate from the driver, internally covered with galvanized brass or any other stainless.

The vehicle is also given a license to transport meat after standard inspections by RICA and RSB 

Article 5 of the regulation n˚ DGO/REG/003 of 25/04/2022 governing meat businesses stipulates that "any business operator except meat transporters, who wishes to carry out the business regulated by this regulation shall have to be licensed by the Regulatory Authority.

In article 30, meat intended for human consumption shall be accompanied by the veterinary meat inspection certificate issued by an authorized meat inspector of the slaughterhouse from which the meat is sourced. 

Veterinary meat inspection certificates issued at the slaughterhouse are only those obtained from the Regulatory Authority.

Article 276 of the law determining offences and penalties in general states that any person, who in any manner, forges or alters documents by forged signature or fingerprint, falsifying documents or signatures or impersonation, forging agreements, its provisions, obligations, or discharged obligations, commits an offence.

Any person who, with fraudulent intention, produces a false written document, causes to write false statements or produces a conflicting declaration, is considered to commit the offence of forgery.

Upon conviction, he/she is liable to imprisonment for a term of not less than five (5) years but not more than seven (7) years and a fine of not less than Rwf3 million and not more than Rwf5 million or only one of these penalties.

Uninspected meat means meat obtained from an animal that has not been inspected in accordance with the law.

For any meat to be sold on the market, it must be slaughtered at a licensed abattoir, inspected and approved for human consumption. The procedure is meant to detect and prevent public health hazards.

The Ministerial Order n?013/11.30 of 18/11/2010 on transport and trade of meat, particularly article 2, stipulates that ??the transport of fresh chilled or frozen meat for food purpose shall be carried in such a manner to not be seen from outside. The meat shall be properly covered and protected against the sun, rain mud, dust, and flies.?

Article 3 of the same order states that the motor-vehicle transportation of fresh, chilled or frozen, non-packed meat shall use closed vans, separate from the driver, internally covered with galvanized brass or any other stainless material.