The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) introduced the new rules and provisions for Federal Law No. 16 of 2007 regarding animal welfare, along with the amendments applied in Federal Law No. 18 of 2016, as shared in a report by WAM.ae.
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In order to ensure that the new provisions and regulations are all inclusive, the Ministry conducted various workshops with government and private sector stakeholders to lay down their insights and views on the matter.
#MoCCaE issued the executive regulations for Federal Law No. 16 of 2007 on #animal welfare and its amendments in Federal Law No. 18 of 2016. Inline with MoCCaE’s keenness to develop a legislative framework for #animal protection and #biodiversity preservation pic.twitter.com/GOZFjkDK7i
— MoCCAE (@MoCCaEUAE) December 12, 2018
UAE Ministry Releases New Animal Welfare Guidelines
The new rules are comprised of nine (9) articles that address the responsibilities of animal owners, the health and technical standards of animal facilities, animal nutrition conditions, as well as the guidelines for loading, transporting, and unloading animals.
Article Two of the regulations specifies the duties of animal owners, which include assuming full responsibility for the animals that depend on them for survival, and not abandoning them at all costs. In the event that an owner can no longer support or keep an animal in their care, the animals must be turned over to relevant authorities.
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Furthermore, animal owners are expected to enlist a sufficient number of staff/personnel to take care of the animals, provide them proper food and shelter, as well as specialized vet care to maintain the animals at optimal health. This also includes keeping records of the animals’ genetic lineage, nutrition, health, activity, and daily routine.
The article also specifies certain acts, such as: failure to offer the animal rest, shelter, and nutrition; harming the animal physically; or keeping it restrained – as forms of animal cruelty and are punishable by law. The same rule applies for those who needlessly tire out the animal without taking into consideration the animal’s health, age, and overall function. These include failure to practice humane animal slaughter, or if they are used in such a way that exploits their nature for the sake of art, entertainment, pranks, and animal fights. Moreover, the administration of animal growth-promoting drugs and hormones, or adding illegal additives to their feed, is banned by the law.
To know more about the new animal welfare rules, you can visit the MOCCAE’s website.
The UAE, as per Engr. Saif Mohammed Al Shara, Assistant Undersecretary for the Sustainable Communities Sector and Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Food Diversity Sector at MOCCAE, is committed to upholding animal welfare in line with the values of Islam and its culture. Moreover, the executive regulations for Federal Law No. 16 of 2007 on animal welfare and its amendments in Federal Law No. 18 of 2016 are aligned with global standards regarding animal welfare.
