Animal welfare in the Middle East
Australian animal welfare experts are helping the United Arab Emirates to take the lead in the Middle East by developing the region’s first contemporary animal welfare laws. Lorraine Follett reports.
Finding solutions to remedy animal welfare issues associated with live trade to the Middle East is not for the faint hearted.
Live trade of Australian sheep and cattle to the Middle East has been a hot topic in the public arena for a number of years. In the background, officers from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s Product Integrity and International Division have been working on some solutions.
In March this year, Dr Peter Thornber of the Animal Welfare Branch and International Division played an instrumental role in improving animal welfare in one Middle Eastern region.
Together with Dr Robin Vandergraaff, retired Chief Veterinary Officer of South Australia, they advised and assisted the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government to establish an animal welfare office and draft animal welfare regulations and guidelines for their 2007 federal animal welfare law.
The UAE is a federation of seven separate Arab states or emirates—Abu Dhabi, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubai, Ra's al Khaymah and Umm al Qaywayn (Quwayn).
Dr Thornber said the UAE was vigorously pushing the animal welfare agenda and taking the lead within the Middle East by developing the first contemporary animal welfare law.
This fits in with the goals of the broader Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) strategy to improve animal welfare handling and transportation in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE and Oman. Australia assisted with developing the strategy to help these countries implement the World Organisation for Animal Health welfare guidelines for land transport, sea transport, humane slaughter and killing for disease control.
‘All the member emirates, but particularly Dubai and Abu Dhabi, are aware of the need to improve animal welfare. They recognise that animal welfare is now an essential and driving element within international trade, particularly those related to Australia and the EU,’ Dr Thornber said.
‘Additionally, horse racing and the enormous growth of overseas organisations and families setting up international offices and residences in the UAE also means animal welfare in the UAE has to meet international standards.’
The UAE animal welfare project is managed by the International Division as part of the deployment of Keniry funds (funding in response to the Keniry inquiry) to improve post arrival handling of livestock exported from Australia to the Middle East.
The Animal Welfare Branch has provided technical expertise to help implement the project. The funds are part of a $1 million a year commitment made by the Australian Government to improve the animal welfare outcomes of live trade and to target increased technical cooperation in importing countries.
The UAE Ministry of Environment and Water’s Animal Health Department sought assistance from Australia through its Dubai-based Agricultural Counsellor, Dr Kiran Johar.
Dr Johar specifically requested assistance for writing regulations/by-laws for the federal animal welfare law published in September 2007. He also asked for advice on the establishment of an animal welfare office in the Federal Ministry of Environment and Water and the establishment of a UAE animal welfare committee to oversee the implementation and enforcement of the by-laws in the seven emirates of UAE.
Dr Thornber said the commitment of UAE members to become leaders in animal welfare in the region was exemplified by the way the scope of his visit expanded.
‘Originally, we were meant to assist with the formation of the UAE animal welfare office and with the drafting of the animal welfare regulations and provide advice on an implementation framework. But we ended up co-chairing a two day workshop with the seven municipalities to focus on what else was needed to implement the regulations.
‘It shows that Australia’s experience and expertise in animal welfare is being recognised internationally,’ Dr Thornber said.
He said the workshop he and Dr Vandergraaff conducted was an effective forum with good engagement and interaction from the participants.
‘Of the seven emirates, there are obvious differences in staffing and capacity to deal with animal welfare. Nevertheless, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi they would appear to be in a good position to take on new challenges. Dubai already has animal shelters and field staff.’
‘Training will be an essential component if veterinarians and animal welfare inspectors are to be effective. They are very interested in developing training packages based on those we have in Australia,’ Dr Thornber said.
‘The workshop discussed how existing arrangements for animal health services might be a lever to engage some farmers. Currently, veterinary services, medicines and vaccines are provided free of charge to farmers. This arrangement may be useful to drive the adoption of animal welfare by-laws.’
Australia’s involvement with the UAE will continue, with a return visit scheduled for mid-year.