Animal welfare Bill sent to Special Select Committee

The Bill speaks to new requirements for safety in transporting animals for meat or production, protection of animals through adequate veterinary care, feed and water, housing and space according to species requirements. It also stipulates that persons intending to keep animals for production purposes register with the relevant authorities.

Animal welfare Bill sent to Special Select Committee

The Animal Welfare Bill of 2016 was sent to a Special Parliamentary Select Committee for further consideration, on the recommendation of the Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder and repeated calls from the Opposition side of the house following Thursday’s lengthy debate.

In presenting the Bill, Minister Holder said animal welfare is an issue of high importance, since the (global) consumption of animal protein is increasing rapidly.

 The Bill takes into context the physical and psychological well-being of animals. It incorporates housing, nutrition, disease prevention and treatment, transport, and humane slaughter, be it livestock or companion animals.

The Animal Welfare Bill was drafted in 2011 aimed at accessing the export market for non-traditional agricultural Products, which was driven by the Agricultural Export Diversification Project (ADP), an IDB funded project, under the previous administration.

Minister Holder told the National Assembly that the Bill was discussed in cabinet in 2014 but was never placed before the house. This was rejected by at least two members on the Opposition side who noted that while there were consultations on the bill, it was never taken to cabinet because the consultations were never completed.

Minister Holder stated that the Guyana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) has given its stamp of approval to the Bill by having an expert on Animal Welfare review it on their behalf. He added that the Bill is also a prerequisite for compliance to allow for export of animals and meat to some countries especially the EU.

The Bill speaks to new requirements for safety in transporting animals for meat or production, protection of animals through adequate veterinary care, feed and water, housing and space according to species requirements.  It also stipulates that persons intending to keep animals for production purposes register with the relevant authorities.

The bill gives consideration to the protection of companion/domestic animals in Guyana also including several requirements that seeks to ensure the protection and wellbeing of domestic animals, especially with regards to their shelter, food supply and humane treatment. Pet shops and animal Shelters will be regulated to ensure the safety of abandoned or lost animals, whilst providing them with temporary shelter and food until an owner is found.

Minister Holder stated that the, “bill seeks to reform the way animal welfare is approached in Guyana. It presents more contemporary regulations that should be followed in order to improve animal health and safety. In order to see that the provisions of this bill are carried out and to propose ways in which the bill may be improved, an Animal Welfare Commission will be formed, which will see the integration of relevant experts from the disciplines of veterinary and human medicine“.

The Commission will be responsible for achieving a comprehensive and effective animal welfare policy, dealing with matters concerning animal safety and will also serve as an advisory body to the Minister on any matters of importance. It was proposed that in the interim, the Animal Welfare Unit of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority will oversee the operationalization of the Bill. There is also reference to penalties where infringements are made.

Opposition Member of Parliament, Dharamkumar Seeraj argued that the common thread following discussions on the bill is that it’s a complex piece of legislation with a lot of persons pleading ignorance regarding of what is contained in the Bill.

He said that the Bill should not be contentious and recommended that it goes to a special select committee to have the involvement of other stakeholders.

He argued that the Bill is imposing additional restriction and hardship on farmers and it would appear as though there are efforts of trying to rush the Bill through the National Assembly.

He questioned what kind of educational programmes were done to make persons familiar with the contents of the bill as he called for people to be educated and not isolated regarding what the legislation is about.

Government Member of Parliament, John Adams told the house that the bill was inherited from the Opposition as he emphasized the importance of the bill. He called for it to be passed and enacted as it is seen on a daily basis how animals are treated by their owners.  

Opposition Member of Parliament – Neil Kumar told the house that the Bill did not appear original and Guyana must not try to copycat what exists in other countries. He thinks the bill has too many measures and is too onerous for people. In calling for the bill to be sent to a Special Parliamentary Select committee for review he went as far as to label some of the measures stupid.

There were also arguments that once implemented the bill which appears ambiguous with its penalties will crippled people involved. It was also argued from the Opposition benches that the cost of meat will increase in the long term.

Minister Holder in summing up the debate said that he heard the concerns of the opposition but the role of animal welfare in food safety imposes an onus aimed at changing the way animals are treated.

For potential trading partners, it is required that the standards in the bill are implemented.

 

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