Taipei Times: Animal abuse may be a crime

June 8, 2007

Animal abuse may be a crime

PROTECTION: Legislators approved measures that would impose a jail term of up to

one year on people convicted of animal abuse leading to death or injury

By Loa Iok-sin

STAFF REPORTER

Thursday, Jun 07, 2007, Page 2

A legislative committee yesterday took the first step toward tightening

protection for animals by approving amendments making animal abuse a crime

punishable by jail time.

The legislature's Economics and Energy Committee unanimously approved amendments

to the Animal Protection Law proposed by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)

Legislator Wang Sing-nan yesterday, DPP Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim said.

The amendments stipulate that any person convicted of harassing, abusing,

harming or abandoning an animal, leading to injuries or death, may be punished

by up to a year in prison.

Under the current law, animal abuse is punishable by fines only.

" [The amendments] represent significant progress for animal protection in

Taiwan, " Hsiao said.

However, this is only the first step in creating an animal-friendly society,

Hsiao said.

" For example, I'd also like to see legislation governing pet trading and

breeding, " Hsiao said.

She added that she was considering an amendment to the Trademark Act that would

require fur suppliers to label the product's origin.

" A lot of consumers think they're buying faux fur, but they're actually buying

real animal fur, " Hsiao said.

" I think consumers have the right to know the origin of the fur products they're

buying, " Hsiao said.

Meanwhile, the committee also approved a non-binding resolution asking the

Council of Agriculture (COA) to draft procedures to ensure more humane animal-

slaughtering procedures.

" Although humane animal-slaughtering practices are already required under the

law, the COA has yet to set a standard procedure for slaughterhouses to follow, "

Hsiao said.

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