News
Thursday, December 2, 2010

OIE Workshop

Animals Lebanon was invited to present its draft national animal welfare legislation by the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) at a three day workshop in Beirut.

The OIE, the world authority on animal health with 177 member countries including Lebanon, held a training workshop from 23 ? 25 November for the Animal Welfare Focal Points in the Middle East.

Twelve Middle Eastern countries were represented at this workshop to discuss the current situation of animal welfare in the Middle East and to set plans and targets for the coming years.

"Lebanon suffers from a huge deficit of animal welfare legislation from pets, to livestock and other animals,including the transport of endangered species," said HE Dr. Hussein Al-Hajj Hassan in the opening of the workshop.  "The Ministry encourages ? and this is an insufficient word ? the enactment of strict laws.  We must make the issue of animal welfare compulsory and binding."

Like two thirds of the countries in the region, Lebanon lacks effective animal welfare legislation.  While the current legislation in Lebanon is outdated and ineffective, it is important to recognize that at the time Lebanon gained its independence in 1943 the issue of animal welfare was taken very seriously and laws were enacted to protect animals at the time of independence.

"Enacting animal welfare legislation is not something new or extreme for this country, it was done at independence and it can be done again now," said Lana El-Khalil, President of Animals Lebanon.  "After conducting extensive research nationally, regionally and internationally, we have drafted legislation in accordance with the Lebanese constitution and international standards.  This will not solve all animal welfare issues, but even basic regulations and enforcement will make a significant difference.

Dr. Ghazi Yehia, the OIE regional representative for the Middle East, stressed that "the OIE will support initiatives and collaboration to improve animal welfare in Lebanon or the region.  The OIE is pleased to be cooperating with Animals Lebanon to enact laws in Lebanon, and believe the laws and process they followed could be a model for the region."

"We unfortunately accept that facilities such as zoos and pet shops will continue to exist," continued Lana.  "It is not our goal to try to ban such facilities, but instead to recognize that they will continue to exist and that having strict regulations can prevent the suffering of countless animals.  The Ministry of Agriculture has committed to formally accepting our draft legislation, and working together with other stakeholders such as the OIE to present comprehensive animal welfare laws to the parliament."



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