Dangerous and offensive trades or offensive trades, are business activities that deal with processing dead animals or that generate unpleasant smells, are subject to regulation in many jurisdictions including India and former British possessions.[1][2][3]
The Oxford Dictionary of Public Health defines offensive trades as
An official designation used in some countries to describe an industry or trade that damages the health and/or economic interests of significant numbers of people in the neighborhood or environment of that industry. The term is usually applied to an industry that produces unpleasant odors, such as a tannery or rendering plant, which in many jurisdictions is subject to public health regulations dealing with abatement of nuisances.[4]
Such offensive industries can encompass a variety of commercial activities, but mainly involve the handling of animal carcasses and hides. Their regulation is aimed at public health, addressing risks such as physical risk of injury or death, chemical risks from natural or synthetic substances used, or biological risk from pathogens and vermin.[5]
The regulation of offensive trades dates back at least to the Sanitary movement in the mid-1800's and the passage of the Nuisances Removal and Diseases Prevention Acts which regulated certain trades in cities in the United Kingdom as part of an effort to address the problem of cholera.[6]
In Barbados,[7] the following are considered offensive trades:
They are classified under the Municipalities of India by an Act passed by the Legislature of India requires licensing and this also serve as a source of income for the states and municipalities.[8] The trades practiced by the traders are called as "D & O Traders". [9][10][11][12]