LIVESTOCK AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCT BILL
1. Context
The Centre has withdrawn the proposed draft of the Live-stock and Live-stock Product (Importation and Exportation) Bill, 2023.
2. What is the Bill say?
- The Livestock and Livestock Products (Importation and Exportation) Bill-2023 aims to replace the existing Livestock Importation Act, of 1898, and the Livestock (Amendment) Act, of 2001.
- The bill focuses on providing guidelines for the import and export of live animals, raising concerns among animal lovers.
- The draft of the bill was prepared by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying.
- On June 7, the department released the 4-page bill in the public domain, inviting comments and suggestions.
- The public was given a 10-day window to provide their feedback on the proposed bill.
- The bill introduces three significant changes compared to the existing law:
- It permits the export of live animals.
- It expands the scope of animal import-export, now including cats and dogs within the definition of 'livestock.'
- It reduces the regulatory powers of state governments in this domain.
3. Livestock Importation Law Reform in India
- The Livestock Importation Act, of 1898, which currently regulates the import of live animals in India, is 125 years old.
- The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) recognizes the need to update the law to align it with contemporary requirements and prevailing circumstances related to sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
- In 2001, during the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's NDA government, amendments were made to the 1898 law.
- Initially, an ordinance called "The Livestock Importation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001" was promulgated, which later got replaced by the Livestock Importation (Amendment) Bill, 2001.
- The key change introduced by the Vajpayee government was the inclusion of the import of livestock products in addition to live animals.
- The amended law defined "livestock products" to include various items such as meat and meat products, organs of poultry, pig, sheep, and goat, eggs and egg powder, milk and milk products, embryos, ova, and semen of bovine, ovine, and caprine species, pet food products of animal origin, and other animal products specified by the Central Government.
- The 2001 amendment also granted the Central Government the power to regulate, restrict, or prohibit the trade of any livestock product that may pose a risk to human or animal health.
4. Proposed Live-stock and Live-stock Product (Importation and Exportation) Bill, 2023
- The existing Live-stock Importation Act, of 1898, consists of 5 sections and only regulates the importation of livestock.
- The proposed draft Bill aims to replace the 1898 Act and expands its scope to include regulation of live-stock exports as well.
- The draft Bill comprises 10 sections and grants the government the authority to promote and develop exports of live-stock and live-stock products.
- The proposed Bill defines its purpose as framing measures for regulating the importation of live-stock and live-stock products while promoting and developing their exports.
- The definition of live-stock has been expanded in the draft Bill to include equines, bovines, caprines, ovines, swines, canines, felines, avian species, laboratory animals, aquatic animals, and any other animals specified by the Central Government, except those prohibited by other acts.
- The draft Bill categorizes live-stocks and live-stock products as commodities and defines them as "live-stock, products of live-stock origin, live-stock genetic material, biological products, and pathological material of live-stock origin."
5. Criticism of Proposed Livestock and Livestock Products (Importation and Exportation) Bill, 2023
- Stakeholders, including animal rights organizations, have strongly criticized the proposed Livestock and Livestock Products (Importation and Exportation) Bill.
- Concerns have been raised regarding the potential for animal cruelty and abuse resulting from the live export of animals from India.
- Animals rights organizations, such as the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO), argue that the draft Bill opens the door to widespread mistreatment of millions of animals raised for food and other purposes.
- Citing UN data from 2021, FIAPO states that nearly 2 billion out of the 80 billion land animals globally raised for food are exported alive to various countries.
- Critics fear that the proposed Bill could have negative consequences for animal welfare, prompting concerns about the ethical implications of such exports.
6. Withdrawal of Live-stock and Live-stock Products (Importation and Exportation) Bill, 2023
- In response to the criticism received, the Centre has decided to withdraw the draft Live-stock and Live-stock Products (Importation and Exportation) Bill, 2023.
- The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying issued an office memorandum announcing the withdrawal of the bill.
- The memorandum states that more time is needed to comprehend the proposed draft and gather additional comments and suggestions.
- Concerns expressed by stakeholders regarding animal welfare and related emotional aspects were taken into consideration during the consultation process.
- The memorandum emphasizes the necessity for broader consultations and wider discussions on the proposed draft.
- The decision to withdraw the bill was made with the approval of the competent authority, as stated in the memorandum issued by GN Singh, Joint Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
|
For Prelims: Livestock and Livestock Products (Importation and Exportation) Bill-2023, Livestock Importation Act, of 1898, and the Livestock (Amendment) Act, of 2001, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), AND Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations (FIAPO).
For Mains: 1. What are the sections included in the Live-stock Importation Act, 1898, and how does it currently regulate the importation of livestock? (250 Words)
|
Source: The Indian Express
