Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder last Friday tabled two bills intended to ensure food safety and protections for animals.
The Food Security Bill 2016 provides for the creation of a Food Safety Authority, which would oversee the control of the production, handling, storage, and transportation of food and regulate the system of food safety in Guyana.
The authority to be established under the law is to comprise such units as a food safety laboratory, meat and agro processing, food service and hospitality, quarantine and border control, food borne illness and common food inspection. The bill also seeks to consolidate the various inspectorates related to food safety, such as the Food and Drug, Plant Health and Animal Health Departments into one authority.
Meanwhile, the Animal Welfare Bill 2016 is intended to address the welfare of all animals in relation to protection, life, health, slaughter, transportation and production. It will also regulate the functions of animal shelters and pet shops as well as the use of animals in experiments or recreation and their conditions in zoos.
The explanatory memorandum notes that the Guyana Livestock and Development Authority is responsible for the administration of the provisions under the proposed law.
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 would also prohibit individuals from inciting or training animals to be aggressive against humans or other animals (except in the case of working and hunting dogs under the supervision of qualified persons) or training animals to fight or in any way associate with animal fights, including organising, attending, betting and advertising
If passed, the bill would also prohibit the use of stimulants or illegal substances that enhance an animal’s performance in sports, competitions and shows.
Persons who commit these offences would, under the proposed law, be liable for a fine of $100,000 and six months imprisonment.
Meanwhile, Part II Section Six of the bill imposes an obligation on any person who injures an animal to render all necessary assistance or arrange for assistance to be provided to the animal, while Sections Nine and Ten identify the circumstances where the owner or a veterinarian in his sole discretion may humanely kill an animal. These circumstances include when medical treatment of the animal is likely to be long-lasting, cause suffering, and the outcome of the treatment is uncertain; if the animal has reached advanced age and its vital functions are failing; or if the animal constitutes a danger to the community.
Part IV of the bill provides for the establishment and composition of an Animal Welfare Commission by the Agriculture Minister. This commission shall comprise 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.
