The Supreme Court recently affirmed ghee (clarified butter) as a "product of livestock," contradicting Andhra Pradesh livestock producers' claims.
The affirmation supported the Andhra Pradesh High Court's verdict, which deemed it irrational to argue that ghee, being derived from milk (a livestock product), is not a livestock product itself.
Under the 1966 Act of Andhra Pradesh defines "livestock" as cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep, poultry, and fish, and government have the authority to declare any product as a "product of livestock."
A 1994 notification by the Andhra Pradesh government had listed ghee as a livestock product, aiming to regulate its trade.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court clarified that ghee, being a derivative of milk (a direct livestock product), falls under the category of livestock products, aligning with the Act's legislative intent.
The court referred to a 2001 ruling on animal husbandry products and emphasized that all derivative products remain within their original product category for regulatory purposes.
Despite challenges to the procedural validity of the 1994 notification, the Supreme Court ruled it was issued correctly under the Act, dismissing objections regarding the notification process.
This ruling ensures that ghee remains regulated under agricultural and livestock market laws, which benefits both producers and consumers by standardizing trade practices.