Gujarat imposes ban on production, sale, use of glue traps for catching rats
Gandhinagar, August 4
According to a recent resolution issued by the Gujarat Government's Agriculture, Farmers Welfare and Cooperation Department, the production, sale, storage, and use of glue traps used to catch rats and other small animals have been banned across the State with immediate effect.
Glue traps are coated with a highly adhesive, non-drying glue that traps animals and birds on contact. As they struggle to escape, they often suffer severe injuries. They may die a slow and painful death due to starvation, dehydration, suffocation, or injuries caused during their attempts to break free, an official releas said.
This practice violates Section 11(1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Moreover, the Animal Welfare Board of India has classified the use of glue traps as highly cruel and illegal under its guidelines.
As per the order issued by the Industries and Mines Department, glue traps have been removed with immediate effect from the GeM portal used for government procurement, as well as from other e-commerce and online platforms. Additionally, all government departments, boards, corporations, and local self-government bodies have been prohibited from purchasing or using glue traps, a release said.
Any violation of this ban may result in the registration of an offence under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, and Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, as well as other legal action. District Police authorities and the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) have been authorised to register complaints and take strict action against violators.
As the production, sale, purchase, and storage of glue traps are now prohibited, all traders must immediately stop stocking and selling them. Citizens are also advised not to use glue traps for rodent control in homes, offices, or factories. Instead, they should adopt animal-friendly, legally approved alternatives such as cage traps or other non-lethal rodent control methods, the release added.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As someone who has lived in both the US and India, this is a welcome move. Glue traps are banned in many Western countries for good reason, and seeing Gujarat follow animal welfare guidelines is a positive sign for the rest of India to follow suit.
It's about time. In our apartment complex, the management used to place these traps and the sound of trapped animals at night was disturbing. I'm sure many residents will be happy with this decision. But I hope the government also promotes affordable alternatives for smaller businesses that face rodent issues.
While I appreciate the intent, I have a practical concern. In our village, rats destroy stored grain, and for small shopkeepers, glue traps are cheap and easy. The government should provide subsidised cage traps or organize demonstration programmes, otherwise people will just switch to poison, which is even more harmful for children and pets. 😕
This is a great example of balancing tradition (like using 'kanni' or sticky substances) with modern animal welfare laws. But I wonder if the enforcement will be uniform, especially in rural areas where such products are sold in local markets. I hope the SPCA has the resources to tackle this effectively.
Respect to Gujarat for this bold step! Animal welfare is often sidelined in the name of "pest control," but cruelty is cruelty. I just hope other states, especially the metropolitan ones where such products are widely sold online, also follow through with similar bans. 🙌
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