Commission to Handle Issues Related to Animal Welfare
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether the Ministry of National Development would establish a dedicated commission for animal welfare, similar to the Personal Data Protection Commission, by expanding existing committees or creating a new stakeholder body. Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong stated there are no plans for such a commission, as the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) already collaborates closely with multi-stakeholder groups. He highlighted the AVA's prior work with the Animal Welfare Legislative Review Committee on legislative updates and its current engagement with the Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration Committee. These partnerships have produced outcomes such as the Code of Animal Welfare for the pet industry and various training and outreach initiatives to promote awareness. Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong concluded that the AVA will continue to engage relevant stakeholders to advance animal welfare instead of forming a new dedicated commission.
Transcript
25 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry will consider setting up a dedicated commission to handle all issues related to animal welfare that is similar to the Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) either by expanding the scope of the current Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration Committee for Animal Welfare or setting up a new committee comprising animal welfare groups, businesses in the pet industry, veterinarians, grassroots community leaders and other relevant stakeholders.
Mr Lawrence Wong: There are currently no plans to set up a dedicated commission to handle issues related to animal welfare.
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) already works closely with multi-stakeholder committees to enhance animal welfare. This approach has led to positive results. For example, AVA had close working relations with the Animal Welfare Legislative Review Committee (AWLRC), a group made up of Members of Parliament, grassroots leaders, animal welfare groups, the pet industry and the veterinary profession. AVA worked with AWLRC in a review of Singapore’s animal welfare legislation in 2012. AVA also supported the AWLRC’s recommendations to enhance stakeholders’ collaboration in animal welfare.
In addition, AVA has close working relations with the Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration Committee (MSCC), which comprises representatives from animal welfare groups, the pet industry, the veterinary profession and the community at large. AVA worked with them on the recently issued Code of Animal Welfare for the pet industry. AVA continues to engage with MSCC on issues relating to training for the pet industry, as well as on outreach initiatives to promote awareness about animal welfare.
AVA will continue to engage with the relevant stakeholders to further the cause of animal welfare in Singapore.