Posted in Legislative Research on Aug 15, 2019

On 29th July 2019 the Animal Health and Breeding Development Bill was introduced to the Pyithu Hluttaw by the Agriculture, Livestock Breeding & Rural Development Committee of the Pyithu Hluttaw.

Current status (on 20th August 2019): Discussion and voting in Pyithu Hluttaw

Bill in brief

This Bill aims to develop animal health and breeding; to help meet demand from local and foreign markets for quality animal products; to prevent animal disease, and; to regulate breeding farms and compounds.

Summary of main provisions

  • An Animal Health and Breeding Development Central Committee will be formed to:

    • formulate animal health, breeding and disease prevention policies
    • oversee management of breeding farms, pastureland and animal feed farms
    • coordinate funding and technical capacity for health and breeding development

  • Create a position for a Chief Veterinarian within the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department, whose duties will be to

    • report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) about the country’s animal health,
    • seek recognition of the national diagnostic laboratory for animal disease from the OIE’s Reference Laboratory and Collaboration Center
    • monitor dissemination of recommendation certificates for animal trade with other countries
    • administer OIE standards and suggestions

  • Affirm the responsibilities of the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department as:

    • to research and produce vaccines and medicines for animal disease
    • raise awareness of public health
    • establish inspection and animal maintaining/watching stations where necessary
    • inspect animal health where they are sold and control contagious disease
    • oversee animal breeding, by:
      • disseminating technical know-how
      • develop standards, permit certificates, and registration processes for related industries
      • register patents for animal genes
      • regulate animal transport and trading
      • coordinate with the relevant officials on regulation of breeding farms and compounds
      • assist with access to the capital for breeders

  • The Department may appoint an Inspector whose duties include:

    • examinations of animal health services, butcheries, animal and animal products, biological /genetic material and animal feed and medicine
    • enforcing temporary suspension of businesses deemed at risk of causing harm to the public

  • Following negotiation with respective ministries, the Central Committee could seek allocation of land designated as farmland, vacant, fallow and virgin lands, forest land and pasture transferred from the Minister of Home Affairs as breeding farms or animal feed farms, and delegate their management to the Department.

  • Certification mechanism for any person or organisation wishing to establish animal health services, animal breeding business, production of animal products and butchery, through the township department head in line with prescribed procedures. If applications are beyond its power, they may be passed to district department head, Region/State/Union Territory department head, and the chief director.

  • Certification mechanism for any person who wishes to import or export animal products, through the Chief Director, before applying for export permit and import license/permit.

  • The Minister must make timely announcements about animal diseases and the department should act to promote prevention and control of contagious disease, coordinating with other organisations. If breeders or veterinarians suspect disease problems, they must quickly report to the department or the respective township/ward/village administrators.

  • A number of management procedures, penalties and fines are established for any permit/recommendation certificate holder, breeder or animal health workers not following regulations, with associated appeals process.

Possible impacts

A brief review suggests this Bill could have the following impacts of interest to civil society groups:

Positive Negative
Public health and associated benefits for the general public Potentially problematic interaction with Vacant Fallow & Virgin Land Law
Improved access to domestic and international markets for smallholder or larger farmers and associated rural development

Other relevant legislation

  • Aquaculture Bill 2019
  • Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Land Management Law 2018
  • Farmland Law 2012
  • Enhancing Economic Welfare of Farmers Law 2013
  • Plant Pest Quarantine Law
  • Consumer Protection Law
  • Food Law

Links

Bill Text

Pyithu Hluttaw Records:

Pyithu Hluttaw - Agriculture, Livestock & Fishery Development Committee

Myanmar Agriculture Development Strategy (ADS):

Bill on iamabill.org

Agriculture Sector data/information on MIMU (Myanmar Information Management Unit)

Contact

Moe Aung, The Ananda, moeaung@theananda.org