Chapter 254 - Animal (Diseases and Quarantine) (S52/2021) - Revised Edition 2022.

Comprising 73 articles across ten parts, this legislation aims to safeguard animal health and safety, regulating their movement to prevent disease spread. In Part 2, centered on Administration, the Director of Agriculture and Agrifood oversees the Act, with the Minister empowered to appoint authorized officers. Identification cards, as directed, are required upon demand by officers, and the Director can delegate powers. Non-compliance with an unidentified officer not in uniform is not deemed an offense. Part 3 covers the importation, transhipment, exportation of animals, and possession of noxious insects. Orders can be made by the Minister specifying countries or territories for importation and transhipment of animals and prohibiting certain products to prevent disease spread. Violations can lead to fines or imprisonment. Importing or transhipping animals without a license, possessing harmful organisms without consent, or non-compliance with examination directives are offenses. Provisions also cover reporting arrivals, dealing with diseased animals, confinement on ships, and exportation requirements.
The pivotal segment of the Act is Part 4, where an extensive array of measures is outlined to curb the dissemination of diseases among animals. These measures encompass (i) Examination of animals; (ii) Seizure of animals; (iii) Isolation or destruction of animals certified as infected; (iv) Post-mortem examinations on animal carcasses; (v) Treatment of animals exposed to infection; (vi) Disinfection of buildings; (vii) Disinfection or destruction of items used with infected animals; (viii) Obligation by the owner to report infected or suspected animals to authorities; (ix) Disposal of deceased animals and restrictions on moving or disposing of a diseased animal; (x) Declaration of infected places and areas, accompanied by subsequent control measures; (xi) Measures for areas affected by rabies, entailing restrictions on moving animals and vaccination requirements. n Part 5 on Control of Livestock, the Minister holds the authority to (i) prohibit the movement of animals within Bthe country for a specified period without written permission from the Director; (ii) restrict the slaughter of animals during specified periods, allowing it only with written permission from the Director. In Part 6, authorized, police, and customs officers are empowered to conduct searches, inspect vehicles and containers for diseases or Act violations, and to seize and confine animals or items linked to violations. Suspected violators of the Act can be apprehended without a warrant, particularly if they refuse to provide information, furnish false details, or are likely to evade authorities.
In Part 7 of the Act, it is mandated that (i) obtaining a license from the Director is a prerequisite for operating veterinary centers; (ii) only authorized officers with a license are permitted to possess or inoculate veterinary biologics; (iii) the Director or authorized officers can issue directives for branding, labeling, or marking animals for identification purposes. In Part 8, which focuses on Quarantine, the legislation encompasses (i) the establishment of quarantine stations, involving qualified personnel for management; (ii) regulations governing the keeping, breeding, or feeding of animals, necessitating licenses and providing authorities with the power to remove or destroy animals in violation.