The African Union Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resource (AU-IBAR), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in the Kingdom of Lesotho brought together the Working Group reviewers who were responsible for drafting of the Lesotho Animal Health, Production and Welfare Bill and the formulation of a National Livestock Policy for Lesotho.
AU-IBAR together with the Programme on Reinforcing Veterinary Governance in Africa (Vet-Gov) Regional Coordinator facilitated the implementation of the Kingdom of Lesotho National Action Plans (NAPs) which included among others were: to Review and update Veterinary & Livestock Legislation and to Formulate/review and update Veterinary & Livestock Policy of Lesotho.
The Working group has drafted a new Bill for Lesotho Animal Health, Production and Welfare which is an Act to provide for the protection and promotion of health of animals, to make provision for the control of animal diseases and provision of veterinary services, to provide for the animal production and welfare of animals and for connected matters.
This new Bill has been put in place as a result of Repealing the following pieces of legislation: Proclamation 10 of 1896 (Stock Diseases), Proclamation 57 of 1952 (Importation and Exportation of Livestock and Livestock Products, Importation and Exportation of Livestock and Livestock Products Proclamation (Amendment) Act 1984 (Act. No. 21 of 1984) and the Stock Diseases Proclamation (Amendment) Act 1984 (Act No. 18 of 1984).
During the period 15th to 16th December 2016, the newly formulated National Livestock Policy and the Animal Health, Production and Welfare draft Bill for Lesotho were Validated. The OIE PVS concerns have been adequately addressed in these documents.
These draft documents will be subjected further to a wider audience for validation during the second week of January, 2017. At the closure of the Validation workshop, the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security acknowledged the AU-IBAR support and commended the Working group members for their inputs.
