Xinhua News Agency 8/24/05: China draft law for animal welfare

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Xinhua News Agency 2005-08-24 19:51:14

 

China enacts law for animal welfare

 

BEIJING, Aug. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- A draft law on animal husbandry, now

under deliberation at the on-going legislative session, includes

articles on animal welfare.

 

Giving attention to animal welfare is crucial for improving the

quality of China's livestock products and shows progress of

civilization, says Shu Huiguo, vice-chairman of the NPC Agriculture

and Rural Affairs Committee, when explaining the draft to the NPC

Standing Committee.

 

The welfare of livestock refers to the animals' rights of being free

from hunger, misery, diseases and scare, according to the draft law.

 

The draft law on animal husbandry was submitted to the 17th meeting

of the Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress,

which will be held from August 23 to 28, for first reading.

 

Shu said scientific experiments show that if maltreated, animals

would react by producing poisonous substances in body which blocks

water circulation, affects the quality of livestock products, and

harms health when people dine on them.

 

The draft law on animal husbandry regulates that local stock farming

supervision departments should give direction to stock farmers and

tell them how to ensure animal's welfare.

 

The draft law also stipulates that stock farmers should provide

proper environment for animals to live and reproduce, regularly feed

and take care of them, when they are under transportation.

 

In today's international trade, Shu acknowledged, poor animal welfare

has become a new trade barrier, which often made Chinese companies

and farmers suffer losses in livestock trade.

 

The legislation for animal welfare is for fitting the international

trend and to make Chinese livestock products more competitive.

 

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