IFAW News Release: IFAW Calls for Beijing to Reconsider Animal We lfare Legislation

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

Here is the latest on China's animal welfare legislation. As you may know,

China currently does not have any animal welfare laws and we would like them

to reconsider a draft proposal that could pave the way for animal welfare in

China.

 

Thank you for your interest,

 

Kerry

 

Kerry Branon

Communications Coordinator

International Fund for Animal Welfare

75 Attucks Lane

Hyannis, MA 02601

508-744-2068

kbranon <kbranon

www.ifaw.org <http://www.ifaw.org/>

 

 

For Immediate Release<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =

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Contact:

 

Jeff He (IFAW) - China Tel: 86-10-64643599; Email: <jhe

jhe

 

Chris Cutter (IFAW) - U.S. Tel: (508) 744-2066; Email:

<ccutter ccutter

 

 

 

 

 

IFAW Calls for Beijing to Reconsider Animal Welfare Legislation

 

 

 

(Beijing, China - 19 May, 2004) - IFAW (the International Fund for Animal

Welfare - www.ifaw.org) today called for the city of Beijing to reconsider a

proposal for animal welfare regulation. Currently, China does not have any

animal welfare laws.

 

 

 

Beijing legislators recently rejected a proposal known as the Beijing Animal

Hygiene Regulation that called for the creation of animal welfare

regulation, which would impose fines for the mistreatment of animals.

Although legislators agreed that creating laws to promote animal welfare was

a good idea, they ultimately decided that it would be difficult to enforce

such laws at the present time.

 

 

 

IFAW asked Beijing to reconsider the Beijing Animal Hygiene Regulation for

the following reasons:

 

* The majority of China's population agrees that it is wrong to treat

animals cruelly, to injure and abandon animals or to force animals to fight

as a form of gambling. Despite outrage toward these types of behaviors,

animals are increasingly abused within China. The lack of animal welfare

laws means violators are still free from any legal punishment.

* Animal welfare is closely linked to human health and the well being

of society. The way a society treats its animals reflects the values of that

society and its attitude toward all life.

* The rejected initiative would be complementary to the national

animal law, the Animal Disease Prevention Law of the People's Republic of

China, by making it more complete.

* Beijing, an Olympic city, should have a pioneering standard for its

moral construction and animal welfare legislation advances that need.

* As a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), China should

follow basic international standards in the way it treats animals.

* Animals are entitled freedom to express their normal behavior as

well as freedoms from hunger, pain, fear, distress, disease and injury.

* Animal groups were not invited to the discussion of the new

regulation.

 

 

 

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Background timeline for editors:

 

 

 

* The Beijing Agriculture Bureau posted a draft of the Beijing Animal

Hygiene Regulation for public opinion and comment on the Beijing

government's official site. The document contains a single chapter

stipulating animal welfare in animal breeding, transporting, butchering and

commerce.

 

 

 

* The Beijing Youth Daily reported the draft regulation. A number of

other media outlets responded positively to the proposed animal welfare

regulation.

 

 

 

* According to the Beijing Legal Affairs Office, the chapters and

relevant statements concerning animal welfare were deleted from the web on

May 11.

 

 

 

* The government immediately launched an investigation to determine

who put the draft regulation online.

 

 

 

* Also on May 11, the draft was renamed the Beijing Animal Disease

Prevention Regulation, and edited to focus on preventing animal disease and

sick animal disposal.

 

 

 

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The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW -- <a

href= " http://www.ifaw.org " >www.ifaw.org</a>) works to improve the welfare of

wild and domestic animals throughout the world by reducing commercial

exploitation of animals, protecting wildlife habitats, and assisting animals in

distress. IFAW seeks to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to

promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well-being of

both animals and people.

 

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