Question NW3001 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
21 December 2020 - NW3001
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
With reference to the briefing by her department to the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries on 13 October 2020, wherein it was stated that her department is still drafting various pieces of legislation to further clarify animal welfare requirements, (a) what are the details of the specific legislation currently under review, (b) what is the status of the review process, (c) on what date will the necessary public participation process commence, (d) on what date will the draft legislation be made public and (e) what is the latest draft amendment thereto?
Reply:
a) An Animal Welfare Bill is being drafted which will repeal the Animals Protection Act, 1962 and the Performing Animals Protection Act, 1935.
b) The drafting and consultation towards the Animal Welfare Bill is currently limited to structures within the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. A phase 1 Socio-Economic Impact Assessment approval for the development of the Animal Welfare Bill was granted in 2019.
c) There are no specific dates that have been set yet for the gazetting and/or release of the documents for public consultation. However, consultation with stakeholders on the Bill will be undertaken during the 2021/2022 financial year.
d) Please refer to (c) above.
e) The Department is not working on any draft amendment in relation to the subject matter. The response in (a) above clarifies that new legislation is being drafted.