Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee launches e—consultation

SINGAPORE: The Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee (AWLRC) is launching an e—consultation on the Singapore government’s REACH portal from Wednesday to October 5, 2012.

The aim is to seek views from the public on strengthening Singapore’s animal welfare legislation.

The AWLRC was set up to review the current legislations on animal welfare, recommend to the government amendments to strengthen the legislations on animal welfare, and recommend approaches to enhance stakeholders’ collaboration on animal welfare.

The AWLRC is chaired by Yeo Guat Kwang, MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC and member of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for National Development.

The AWLRC comprises MPs Gan Thiam Poh and Alex Yam, as well as community grassroots leaders, and representatives from the animal welfare groups, pet industry, and the veterinary profession.

As part of the review, the AWLRC initiated a consultation process to take into consideration Singapore society’s expectations for animal welfare, the diverse views of the various stakeholders, and strike a balance between animal welfare, safeguarding of public safety, and other competing interests.

The AWLRC has held six consultation sessions from May to July 2012 involving more than 170 participants from the industry, grassroots leaders, veterinarians, and animal welfare groups and activists to seek views from these stakeholder groups.

Members of the public can access the e—consultation via www.reach.gov.sg.

— CNA/cc