AGRICULTURE Minister Noel Holder on Friday tabled the Food Safety and Animal Welfare Bills in the National Assembly.The 2016 Food Safety Bill has been crafted to prevent the spread of food-borne diseases through control of the production, preparation, handling, storage, and transportation of food.

The Animal Welfare Bill of 2016 seeks to safeguard the rights of animals, seeking to prevent persons from causing unnecessary pain to animals.

According to Part II, Section Four of the Bill, “No person shall raise an animal in a way that causes or is likely to cause pain, suffering, fear or injury; through selection or other methods increases aggressiveness of an animal; and/or use technical devices, aids and tools aimed at controlling behaviour of animals by punishment, including prong collars or training devices involving the use of electric current, or chemical substances, except when training working dogs.”

The Bill, if enacted, would also bar the use of stimulants or illegal substances that enhance an animal’s performance in sports, competitions and shows.

Section Five of Part II provides for disciplinary actions to be taken against owners who abandon their animals, and/or inflict pain, suffering or injury upon animals during training.

If enacted, persons who commit these offences would be liable to a fine of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) and three months’ imprisonment.

The Bill also states that a person may humanely kill an animal when medical treatment of the animal is likely to be long-lasting; cause suffering, and the outcome of the treatment is uncertain; and if the animal has reached advanced age and its vital functions are failing.

The Animal Welfare Bill also caters for six other reasons. “The humane killing of an animal, generally, shall be carried out by a veterinarian or qualified veterinary technician under the supervision of a veterinarian, except where otherwise provided for, and in the following cases – (a) the humane killing of animals bred or kept for production purposes; (b) the humane killing of animals for the purposes of teaching, conducting experiments, or producing biological preparations; (c) pest control; and (d) when it is necessary to humanely kill an animal without delay because it suffers severe and incurable pain.

Part IV of the Bill paves way for the establishment of an Animal Welfare Commission by the Agriculture Minister. The commission, when put into operation, shall comprise of no less than eight and no more than 12 members, who are required to be experts in the field of veterinary medicine, human medicine, biology, pharmacy, biochemistry and agronomy; as well as representatives from the animal protection associations.