On November 26, 2022, the Department of Animal Husbandry, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying celebrated National Milk Day in Bengaluru, Karnataka. As part of the celebrations in Hasserghata Bengaluru, the Department launched Animal Quarantine Certification Services.
Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan, Minister of State, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, inaugurated the station on National Milk Day in the presence of the Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India.
AQCS, Bangalore, was established in August 2009 and operated from the airport satellite office at Alpha 3, Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, Karnataka.
Since its inception, the station's workload has increased significantly, as has the movement of livestock and livestock products. However, due to the lack of a quarantine facility, importing live animals such as horses, cats, sheep, and goats were not permitted in Bengaluru.
As a result, construction work began on a 10-acre site in Hessarghata, Bengaluru, with funding from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Government of India, and was completed by CPWD, Bangalore. The station has a cutting-edge structure and infrastructure.
It is anticipated that the ambient climatic conditions in Bengaluru will be most suitable for live animal imports and that such imported animals will be properly acclimatised at the Quarantine station in Hessarghata.
This station will make it easier for regions of the country, particularly the southern states, to import and export livestock and livestock products, thereby boosting trade. In due course, the AQCS will be equipped with an online clearance system for imports of livestock products and livestock, which will be a game changer for the local economy.