Question NW289 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
18 March 2024 - NW289
Masipa, Mr NP to ask the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
Whether she will furnish Mr N P Masipa with the detailed progress that has been made regarding the completion of the first draft of the Animal Welfare Bill that is due in March 2024; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether she will furnish Mr N P Masipa with the (a) details of the public stakeholder consultation that took place during the drafting of the Animal Welfare Bill and (b) due date for presentation to (i) Cabinet and (ii) Parliament for the processing of the Bill; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NW327E
Reply:
1. Yes. The first draft of the Animal Welfare Bill is currently being drafted and will be completed in March 2024.
2. (a) No. No public stakeholder consultation has taken place as yet.
(b)(i),(ii) It is not possible to determine the exact time frames due to the various processes that must be engaged prior to the introduction of a Bill to Parliament. As indicated in the reply to question 3435 on 22 November 2023, the first draft is expected to be completed by March 2024 and the Bill will follow the normal legislation-making process including:
- processing through the relevant Directors-General Cluster System;
- conducting a Socio-Economic Impact Assessment;
- constitutional certification by the Office of the Chief State Law Advisor; and
- obtaining Cabinet approval to gazette for public comments.
Once the comments have been considered, the Bill will be amended accordingly and will be submitted to Cabinet for approval to table in Parliament.