The proposed new Animal Keeping and Animal Protection law once in effect will streamline and further strengthen the existing policy on import and re-export of animals, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Welfare has said.
The bill is designed to streamline regulations and standards to facilitate sustainable and safe animal husbandry, breeding, buying and selling of animals in the Maldives.
Speaking on PSM News' "Raajje Miadhu" programme, Minister of State for Agriculture and Animal Welfare, Ali Safwan Ibrahim responded to questions raised over the bill criticising the government for prioritising animal rights over people.
Safwan insisted that this bill also ensures the safety of people as it is based on international standards for animal keeping and welfare.
"The truth is that we are proposing this bill to ensure the safety of people as well. This bill will ensure that import laws are properly streamlined to prevent the import of animals suffering diseases. This bill will also give more protection to our ecosystem,” he explained.
The State Minister also pointed out that the proposed law will stamp out animal cruelty which he said has no place in a civilised society.
According to Safwan, the bill will address concerns about the current regulations for importing and re-exporting animals.
In that regard, the proposed new law will include important provisions to address the issue of unlimited import and breeding of animals in the Maldives, he added.
"The biggest protection will come after animals are imported. We have already held discussions on import regulations. The current import regulations allow unlimited import of cats. There is no control. And breeding is as they want. That’s why we are seeing cross breeding. So the new law will address such issues,” Safwan said.
The draft law will establish procedures for the medical treatment of animals to ensure the health and well-being of imported and domesticated animals and to protect them from diseases transmitted to and from animals and humans.
The import of animals into Maldives, possession, import and trade of animal feed and medicines will be required to be registered under this bill.
Under the bill, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare is responsible for formulating animal welfare policies and enforcing the law. The bill also requires the government to establish port quarantine facilities and animal sanctuaries at ports where animals are imported into the Maldives.
The bill also outlines measures to be taken for neglect, abandonment and cruelty towards animals which includes hefty fines.
The draft law comes amid mounting complaints of stray cats, especially around the capital Male’. The increasing number of stray cats around the capital has prompted the government to establish a special cat shelter which is now in operation in Hulhumale’.
The proposed law has been moved in Parliament and is currently being reviewed by the Parliamentary Social Affairs Committee.