(LK): New Animal Welfare Bill in Parliament

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http://www.nation.lk/2009/04/12/news13.html

 

New Animal Welfare Bill in Parliament

 

By Sagarica Rajakarunanayake

The Animal Welfare Bill has, at last, been brought to Parliament,

nearly three years after the Draft Bill, and was presented by the Law

Commission to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

 

The much outdated single piece of legislation that exists today for

the protection and welfare of animals is the ‘Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals Ordinance’ of 1907. This antiquated law has penalties and

fines coming from British times, making a mockery of the law today. In

this Ordinance, the fine for the worst acts of cruelty to an animal,

remains at rupees two hundred and fifty!

 

If the Animal Welfare Bill is passed in Parliament, it will not only

draw from our past traditions, but will place us among modern

progressive societies, which, while upholding human rights, also have

effective laws to protect animals, bringing the treatment of animals

within the Rule of Law.

 

The failure of successive governments since independence to introduce

effective animal protection laws, has led to the ruthless, unlawful

exploitation of animals, as in the case of wild fauna and our

indigenous cattle and buffalo resources. The inadequacies of the

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals law, and the other laws for the

control of animals, has led to the emergence of a large-scale illicit

cattle trade. This is operated by a formidable mafia of traders, and

wrought with cruelty both in transportation and slaughter of cattle.

This mafia has corrupted our society by bribing the Police,

administrative authorities and veterinary personnel in every part of

the country.

As much as the cattle for the meat trade are largely illicitly

obtained, veterinary officers are known to issue permits without

proper inspection of the animals as the law requires, making hygienic

standards of the meat trade largely questionable. Rather than allowing

an illicit, unhygienic and cruel meat trade that is unmanageable to

continue, it would serve the country better to stop cattle slaughter

and import the peoples’ requirements in meat consumption.

 

Under the new Bill, persons breeding or trading in animals without

obtaining a license, or keeping any animal for sale or display for

sale in a cruel manner, if convicted will be liable to a heavy fine or

imprisonment or both.

 

Another new area of animal abuse is the use of live animals for

scientific research. It is indeed heartening that professors and

senior lecturers of the Department of Human Genetics, Colombo Medical

Faculty, have taken the humanitarian movement in our country several

steps forward by forming an Ethical Committee for the use of live

animals in scientific research .This committee has already prepared a

strict code of guidelines for any persons doing research using

animals. Authorities must hasten to give legality to these

guidelines. The new Bill has heavy penalties and sentences for the

illegal use of animals in scientific research.

 

The old Ordinance does not embrace wild fauna of this country and

exotic captive animals, such as the animals of the National Zoological

Gardens. However, they are both included in the new Animal Welfare

Bill which in fact spreads its protective wings over all living beings

other than humans.

 

The revolutionary aspect of the Bill is the setting up of a National

Animal Welfare Authority. This body will comprise members with wide

experience in animal welfare issues and ex-officio officers, equipped

and empowered to deal with all issues concerning the protection and

welfare of animals. This Authority will appoint officials and animal

welfare inspectors for the efficient discharge of its functions. At

present the Police are the implementers of the existing animal

protection law. The new Authority will have powers to monitor the

progress of investigations and criminal proceedings relating to

offences against animals.

 

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