DRAFT LIVESTOCK AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS BILL - POLITY
News: Why
the draft livestock and livestock products Bill was withdrawn
What's in the news?
● The
Centre has withdrawn the proposed draft of the Live-stock and Live-stock
Product (Importation and Exportation) Bill, 2023.
Draft Livestock and Livestock Products Bill:
● The
Draft Livestock and Livestock Products Bill is a proposed legislation that aims
to replace the existing Live-stock Importation Act, 1898, and Live-stock
(Amendment) Act, 2001.
● It
provides guidelines for the import and
export of live animals and has raised concerns among animal welfare
advocates.
● The
Department of Animal Husbandry and
Dairying (DAHD), under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and
Dairying, has prepared the draft bill and released it for public feedback.
Key features of the Bill:
Objective:
● The
draft bill seeks to update the outdated
laws and align them with contemporary requirements and sanitary measures.
● The
existing law is over 125 years old and needs to be adapted to current
circumstances.
Scope:
● The
proposed legislation expands the scope of animal
import-export, including the inclusion of cats and dogs as “live-stock.”
● It
also allows for the export of live animals, which is a departure from the
existing law.
Changes to state government powers:
● The
draft bill reduces some powers of state
governments in regulating the import-export of live animals and livestock
products.
Need for a new law:
1. Outdated law:
● The
existing Live-stock Importation Act,
1898, is outdated and needs to be modernized to reflect current
requirements and regulations.
2. Alignment with contemporary needs:
● The
new law aims to align with prevailing sanitary and Phyto-sanitary measures and
the Allocation of Business Rules, 1961.
3. Previous Amendments:
● The
2001 amendment introduced livestock products into the scope of the law.
● It
also granted the central government the authority to regulate, restrict, or
prohibit the trade of livestock products that may impact human or animal
health.
New Provisions in the Bill:
1. Expansion of scope:
● The
draft bill expands the scope of the existing law by including provisions for
the regulation of live-stock exports in addition to imports.
2. Sections and Definitions:
● The
proposed draft bill consists of 10 sections, whereas the existing law has only
5 sections.
● It
introduces new definitions and expands
the definition of live-stock.
3. Inclusion of Feline and Canine:
● The
definition of live-stock in the draft bill includes felines and canines,
whereas the existing law does not specifically mention them.
4. Revised definition of Live-stock:
● The
draft bill broadens the definition of live-stock to encompass various animal categories, including equines, bovines,
caprines, ovines, swines, canines, felines, avian, laboratory animals, aquatic
animals, and any other animal specified by the Central Government.
● This
is a departure from the previous definition that primarily focused on horses,
kine, camels, sheep, and animals specified by the Central Government.
5. Promotion and development of exports:
● The
proposed bill empowers the government to make arrangements for the promotion
and development of live-stock and live-stock product exports, which is not
covered in the existing law.
6. Inclusion of Live-stock Products:
● The
draft bill considered live-stock and live-stock products as commodities, which encompass products
of live-stock origin, live-stock genetic material, biological products, and
pathological material of live-stock origin.
Criticisms of the Bill:
1. Animal cruelty:
● The
draft bill has faced strong criticism from animal rights organizations, who
argue that allowing the live export of
animals will lead to widespread animal abuse and cruelty.
● They
believe that the bill opens the door to potential mistreatment of animals
farmed for food and other purposes.
2. Impact on animal welfare:
● Critics
argue that the bill disregards the well-being of animals by prioritizing trade
and economic interests over ethical
considerations.
● The
large-scale export of live animals can subject them to stressful and inhumane
conditions during transportation and in destination countries.
3. Opposition from Animal Protection groups:
● The
Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO), along with other
animal welfare organizations, has expressed strong opposition to the draft
bill.
● They
highlight the global trend towards phasing out live animal exports and
emphasize the need for stricter animal
welfare regulations.
4. Environmental concerns:
● Critics
raise concerns about the environmental impact of live animal exports.
● The
transportation of large numbers of animals over long distances can contribute
to greenhouse gas emissions,
deforestation, and other ecological problems.
5. Ethical and moral considerations:
● The
proposed bill has sparked debates about the ethical and moral implications of
exporting live animals.
● Some
argue that it goes against the principles of compassion and respect for animal
life, as well as India’s cultural and religious traditions that value
non-violence and protection of animals.