Shoura to discuss animal welfare laws

The Shoura Council will discuss drafts on animal welfare, veterinary professions systems and the penalties related to both. These two laws need to be compatible with those in other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states.
The council’s committee on housing, water and public services approved the first draft and recommended its completion as adopted by the Supreme Council of the GCC at its 32nd regular session.
In addition, the committee requested the speeding up of issuance and approval of the animal welfare system regulations from the Agricultural Cooperation Committee.
The committee demanded that the regulations should include rules with regard to pets and domesticated birds’ shops, the illegal trafficking of rare animals and endangered species, animal races, as well as promoting awareness on animal welfare and the containment of stray animals to prevent their deterioration.
As for the other draft, the committee demanded that violators of the provisions should be punished with fines of SR 100,000 to SR 400,000, as well as the closure of the facility and the revoking of licenses permanently if the offenses are repeated more than four times during the same year of violation.
On the other hand, the Council will vote on the draft of Prevention of HIV/AIDS system and the rights and duties of patients on Sunday.
The Shoura will also discuss the annual reports of the King Faisal Specialist Hospital, the SCAT and the Grain Silos and Flour Mills Organization (GSFMO), in addition to a special report submitted by the management committee regarding regulations to control cases of absence or the issue of fleeing tenants with unpaid rents.