Summary.
The bill amends Article 48 of Law 55 of 1973 to require payment of the slaughter tax on cattle, pigs, goats, or sheep to the Municipal Treasury (Tesorería Municipal) of the district from which the animal originates. It defines that district as the one from which the animal departs for slaughter and requires the place of origin to be recorded on the license or transport permit.
In amending Article 49, it requires anyone intending to slaughter an animal to obtain a written license from the relevant mayor or justice of the peace. The license would be issued after payment of the slaughter tax; the applicant would have to present the receipt, and its date and number would be recorded on the license or transport permit. If slaughter occurs because of an unforeseen event, the person carrying it out must present the relevant portion of the hide to the official within the following 2 business days. This would allow the branded mark to be checked against the brand registered with the mayor’s office, the tickets, or the purchase license or permit. Brands must be registered in the municipality or district where the animals’ farm of origin is located.
The amendment to Article 50 provides that each license issued by the Mayor’s Office of the animal’s district of origin have 5 copies, subject to agreement between the municipalities. One would be filed with the mayor’s office and another sent to the Municipal Treasury. The remaining 3 would be given to the applicant: one would be presented at the first National Police (Policía Nacional) checkpoint upon leaving the district if transport is by land, or to the competent authority at the port of arrival if transport is by sea; another would be given to the person in charge of the slaughterhouse before slaughter.
Proposed Article 50-A makes the slaughter license or permit for transporting livestock valid for 24 hours after a sale, provided the corresponding documentation is available, including the previous owner’s slaughter permit. It also requires all meat leaving the slaughterhouse to bear its stamp.
New Article 63-A provides for a fine ranging from 50 balboas (B/.50.00) to 1,000 balboas (B/.I000.00) for a trader who sells meat without the corresponding slaughter permit, with the amount based on the weight of the meat in pounds. A repeat offense would be punished by doubling the previous fine. It authorizes the competent municipalities to inspect commercial premises and penalize violations. If meat of questionable origin exceeds 300 pounds, the case file would be referred to the competent authorities. The bill states that it amends and adds provisions to Law 55 of 1973 and would enter into force on the day after its promulgation.
Given its subject matter, it concerns municipal authorities, justices of the peace, the National Police, and the competent port authorities. It could also be of interest to or affect livestock farmers, livestock and meat traders, transporters, and slaughterhouses.
What it proposes.
- Payment and oversight of the municipal livestock slaughter tax.
- Licenses, transport permits, and livestock brands for slaughter and transport.
- Meat identification and penalties for sales without a permit.
Who it would affect.
- People who slaughter or transport cattle, pigs, goats, or sheep.
- Livestock and meat traders.
- Municipalities and officials who issue licenses or oversee compliance.
- People in charge of slaughterhouses.
Key points.
- The slaughter tax would be paid in the district from which the animal departs for slaughter, and that place of origin would be recorded on the license or transport permit.Art. 1
- A written license to slaughter an animal would depend on prior payment of the tax and would state the date and number of the receipt.Art. 2
- If slaughter occurs because of an unforeseen event, a portion of the hide would be presented within the following 2 business days to check the brand; brands would be registered in the municipality or district where the animals’ farm of origin is located.Art. 2
- The license would have 5 copies, with copies designated for the mayor’s office, the treasury, a checkpoint or port authority, and the slaughterhouse.Art. 3
- The license or permit for transporting livestock would remain valid for 24 hours after the sale, with the corresponding documentation, and meat leaving the slaughterhouse would bear a stamp.Art. 4
- Selling meat without a permit would result in a fine ranging from 50 balboas (B/.50.00) to 1,000 balboas (B/.I000.00), doubled for a repeat offense.Art. 5
- Municipalities could inspect premises and penalize violations; the case file would be referred to the competent authorities if meat of questionable origin exceeds 300 pounds.Art. 5
- The bill would enter into force on the day after its promulgation.Art. 7