Beef Ban: Bombay Veterinary College ‘ill-equipped’ to test meat samples

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“We are not a testing institute. While we can test two to three samples, we do not have the resources available to test many samples and have already refused samples. We used to test samples to explain the technique for students’ benefit. I’m not sure if our results will be acceptable in the courts as we are not a certified and accredited testing facility,” said RS Gandge, in-charge professor, department of microbiology. “We will be writing to the police to avoid sending us any more samples,” he added.

Meat samples at the college are tested to identify species using a technique, which is termed as “Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism-PCR-RFLP”. This technique is used in genome mapping.

Moreover, the testing apparatus is “not in working condition” in the microbiology department, according to Gangde. “We are working on getting it fixed. Meanwhile, the same kit is available in other departments, but we will not get it regularly to test meat samples that are not even for research purposes,” she said.

Also, the college has just one expert who is trained in the particular process – Suresh Jagdale, a senior research assistant.

Although the testing process takes six to eight hours, according to Jagdale, the test and confirmation takes at least three days as it is not conducted along with our regular research work during the regular working hours. “We will begin testing the samples on Monday and should be able to ascertain what meat it is and provide a report by Wednesday,” he said.

Meanwhile, lawyers said the acceptance of meat tests done from Bombay Veterinary College was subjective. “It all depends on the qualification of the expert and if the court is satisfied that the person is authentic. It is subjective. At best, the court may ask for a second test to be done at FSL,” said criminal lawyer Majeed Memon.

anjali.lukose@expressindia.com