Legislation Details
- Full Title: Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases
- Law Type: Federal Law
- Law Number: Federal Law No. (8) of 2013
- Issued Date: 21 Oct 2013
- Effective Date: 31 Oct 2013
- Official Gazette: No. 555
- Sector: Environment and Natural Resources
- Status: Active
- Number of Articles: 46
- Chapters/Parts: 12
- Amendments: 0
Summary
This Federal Law regulates the prevention and control of communicable and epidemic animal diseases in the United Arab Emirates. Its purpose is to maintain the health of animals through the application of disease prevention and control programs. The law imposes reporting obligations on animal owners, grants powers to government authorities to take preventive and control measures, and establishes penalties for non-compliance. This legislation is important for businesses and individuals involved in the animal industry, as it aims to safeguard animal and public health in the UAE. (Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases, 2013, Art. 1-2)
What is the scope and purpose of this law?
The law applies throughout the United Arab Emirates and regulates the prevention and control of communicable and epidemic animal diseases. Its purpose is to maintain the health of animals in the country through the implementation of disease prevention and control programs. (Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases, 2013, Art. 2)
What are the key definitions under this law?
The law provides the following key definitions:
- State: United Arab Emirates
- Ministry: Ministry of Environment and Water
- Minister: Minister of Environment and Water
- Competent Authority: the local authority in charge of animal health in each emirate
- Health Authority: Ministry of Health and local health authorities
- Facilities: Any place where animals are kept, reserved, reproduced, bred, slaughtered, treated, or transported
- Governmental Veterinarian: A veterinarian who works for the Ministry or Competent Authority
- Veterinarian: A person holding a bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine and a license to practice from the Ministry
- Animal: All kinds of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and bees
- Disease: Clinical and/or pathological symptoms of a particular disease, including any deviation or change in the natural or vital functions of an animal's body
- Pathological Specimens: Samples taken from an animal for laboratory testing
- Communicable Disease: A disease that can be transmitted from one organism to another, directly or indirectly
- Epidemic Disease: A communicable disease that develops and spreads quickly
- Common Diseases: Diseases naturally transmitted from animals to humans
- Disease Free Zone: A geographical area free from a particular animal disease and its pathogen
- Infected Area: A geographical area containing a particular animal disease or its pathogen
- Epidemiological Surveillance: The continuous collection and analysis of samples and information to determine the health status of animals
- Isolation: Restricting the movement of sick or suspected infected animals to prevent them from integrating with healthy animals
- Animal Owner: The owner, keeper, or caretaker of an animal
- Animal Products: Edible parts of animals, including meat, fish, dairy, and eggs
- Animal Wastes: Non-edible parts of animals, including blood, horns, hooves, hair, and manure
(Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases, 2013, Art. 1)
What are the main obligations and requirements?
The law imposes the following key obligations: 1. Animal owners must report any suspected animal disease to the Ministry, Competent Authority, or police station, and have the animal examined by a veterinarian. They must immediately report any disease listed in the attached table to the authorities. (Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases, 2013, Art. 3) 2. The Competent Authority and police station must notify the Ministry of any reported disease within 24 hours. The Ministry must then verify the report. (Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases, 2013, Art. 4) 3. The Ministry must carry out epidemiological surveillance, disease diagnosis, awareness programs, vaccination programs, and maintain a database of animal wealth. (Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases, 2013, Art. 8) 4. Sick or suspected infected animals must be isolated, and their owners may not dispose of them without approval from the Ministry and Competent Authority. (Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases, 2013, Art. 10) 5. Pathological specimens cannot be sent abroad or imported without prior approval from the Ministry. Animals cannot undergo scientific experiments without a permit from the Ministry. (Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases, 2013, Art. 11) 6. The trading, disposal, or transportation of infected animals, their products, or wastes is prohibited without approval from the Ministry and Competent Authority. (Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases, 2013, Art. 13)
Which authorities or bodies are responsible for enforcement?
The key authorities responsible for enforcing this law are: 1. The Ministry of Environment and Water, led by the Minister of Environment and Water. 2. The Competent Authorities, which are the local authorities in charge of animal health in each emirate. 3. The Health Authorities, which include the Ministry of Health and local health authorities. 4. Governmental veterinarians who work for the Ministry or Competent Authorities. These authorities are empowered to take various actions to prevent and control animal diseases, such as declaring infected areas, isolating sick animals, and disposing of infected animals. (Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases, 2013, Art. 5, 9, 10, 12, 16)
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The law establishes the following penalties for non-compliance: 1. Violation of Articles 6, 10, 11, and 13 (related to reporting, isolation, and trading of infected animals) is punishable by imprisonment and/or a fine of not less than AED 10,000 and not more than AED 300,000. (Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases, 2013, Art. 17(1)) 2. Violation of Article 3 (failure to report suspected diseases) is punishable by a fine of not less than AED 3,000 and not more than AED 50,000. (Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases, 2013, Art. 17(2)) 3. Violation of Article 14 (improper disposal of dead animals) is punishable by a fine of not less than AED 1,000 and not more than AED 5,000. (Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases, 2013, Art. 17(3))
How does this law interact with other UAE legislation?
This Federal Law concerning the prevention and control of communicable and epidemic animal diseases is related to and interacts with the following other UAE legislation: - Federal Decree No. (1) of 1972 Concerning the Competences of the Ministries and the Powers of Ministers - Federal Law No. (6) of 1979 Concerning the Animal Quarantine - Federal Decree-Law No. (9) of 1983 Regulating the Hunting of Birds and Animals - Federal Law No. (3) of 1987 Issuing the Penal Code - Federal Decree No. (35) of 1992 Issuing the Criminal Procedure Code - Federal Law No. (10) of 2002 Concerning the Practice of Veterinary Profession - Federal Law No. (11) of 2002 Regulating and Controlling the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora - Federal Law No. (16) of 2007 Concerning Animal Welfare (Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases, 2013, Preamble)
When did this law come into effect?
This Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases was issued on 21 October 2013 and came into effect on 31 October 2013, the date of its publication in the Official Gazette No. 555. (Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases, 2013, Issued Date, Effective Date)
Source Documents
This article analyses Federal Law Concerning the Prevention and Control of Communicable and Epidemic Animal Diseases for legal research and educational purposes. For the purpose of interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text prevails. This does not constitute legal advice.