The Executive Yuan today approved a draft amendment to the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Disease. This bill, which was formulated by the Council of Agriculture (COA), will be sent to the Legislature for deliberation.
According to the COA, the amendment aims to reinforce the epidemic prevention system in the following ways:
- Laying the legal foundation for prohibition of the sale of live poultry at traditional markets.
- Setting up the management system for domestic diagnostic laboratories for animal infectious diseases.
- Strengthening prevention and reduction of the risk of contagious diseases passing between animals via vehicles and loading cages for their transport.
- Encouraging active reporting of outbreaks of newly discovered notifiable animal diseases.
The amendment's chief points are as follows:
1. Stipulations for an infectious biomaterial management system as well as the testing, reporting, confirmation and opening to the public of test specimen are added. (Articles 12-1 and 12-2)
2. Measures for cleaning and disinfection of vehicles and loading cages used to transport animals as well as specifications for egg containers and packing materials are also included. (Article 14)
3. In order to prevent the transmission of contagious avian diseases from chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys to humans and other animals, central competent authorities are permitted to prohibit the display and sale of live poultry at public retail markets. (Article 14-1)
4. It is clearly established that those who violate mandatory disease notification responsibilities or do not comply with the instructions of animal disease inspection authorities will not receive compensation for their losses from an epidemic. Moreover, those who own or manage animals are encouraged to actively report contagious diseases which are newly discovered or have not been seen in Taiwan for over two years; if they are forced to cull any animal due to such illnesses, they are entitled to compensation based on that animal's evaluated price. (Article 40)
5. In order to improve the effectiveness of communication about epidemic outbreaks, the amount of the fine for shirking the legal obligation to report an animal's contraction of an infectious disease is increased. Accompanying penalty stipulations are added as well. (Articles 43 and 45)