05 December 2000
 Protection of Animals Bill Gets Royal Assent |
The Protection of Animals (Amendment) Bill which has been a cause for concern across sectors
of the pet industry, has been given Royal Assent.
Under the new arrangements, animals thought to be the subject of neglect can be placed under a care order while a prosecution is in progress. Up until now, this could only happen following a successful prosecution. Magistrates will be able to grant an order to certain prosecutors allowing for the temporary care or for the disposal, sale or slaughter of the animals concerned. To facilitate this, prosecutors will be granted the power of entry to premises where the animals are kept and if needed, the right to use whatever equipment is installed at the premises to carry out the order. The Bill specifically excludes residential property. The Bill was taken under the Private Members' procedure. It was introduced by Mrs Clare Curtis-Thomas and sponsored in the House of Lords by the Baroness Fookes. Welcoming the new measure, Animal Welfare Minister, Elliot Morley said: "I am delighted that this Bill which Clare Curtis-Thomas and Baroness Fookes guided so successfully through Parliament is now headed for the statute book. I have written to congratulate them on their efforts. "The Government was pleased to lend the Bill support in its passage through Parliament. We have a long tradition of concern for animals, and this Bill plugs an important gap in the basic law protecting their welfare - the 1911 Protection of Animals Act. Under the new arrangements, neglected animals may be properly cared for while a prosecution is in progress. The Bill was eagerly sought by vets, enforcement bodies and animal welfare charities alike. MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food), will play a key role in implementing its provisions and I have asked my officials to act speedily in consulting interested organisations on the administrative arrangements before it comes into force." Objections were made by the Pet Care Trust, (PCT), during the readings of the Bill. These centered around the scope of powers granted and the financial hardship that a business which could subsequently be found to be innocent, might suffer as a result of an order being made against it. But it was passed through both houses without amendment. It had the support of the RSPCA who are widely expected to be listed by MAFF as a named prosecutor alongside local authorities and other non-governmental organisations. As a result the PCT has called for the formation of a protective body to represent the interests of the pet industry. Anyone with an interest in the PCT might like to visit their site at: www.petcare.org.uk. It has been updated and is a little more informative than it used to be. This article may be reproduced with permission of the author and correct attribution to the source. |