Public consultation on the preparation of a National Animal Welfare Strategy

CLOSED CONSULTATION

From:	Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights (Animal Health and Welfare Department)
Published:	19 May 2022
Running till:	1 July 2022
Last Updated:	4 July 2022

1. Background

The aim of this initiative is to gather information and opinions to guide the drafting of a National Animal Welfare Strategy. This public consultation process aims to collect and collate feedback from the public and relevant stakeholders based on the following objectives:

To review current animal welfare measures with an aim of identifying strengths which can be built upon and weaknesses which can be addressed.
To consult activists, NGOs, local councils, sanctuaries, shelters and citizens with the aim of exploring how these entities can be supported and work in tandem with public authorities to improve animal welfare.

To explore the potential benefits of increased public awareness and education campaigns with the aim of developing relevant targeted campaigns to address identified shortcomings within various sectors.

To consider an increase in scope for animal welfare measures within Malta looking into groomers, boarding kennels, trainers, and other related professions, sporting activities and public projects to assess whether more needs to be done to increase the level of legal protection for certain species of animals.

To prepare a strategic framework to help build partnerships with interested stakeholders, improve coordination, reduce duplication of effort, and deliver a more effective and consistent national approach to improving the welfare of animals.

To gauge the willingness of citizens as consumers to look out for products produced by means of better welfare measures and potentially pay more for those products.

To acknowledge the role of primary producers and work to prevent disproportionate burdens being placed upon them whilst considering geographical and climatic specificities.

To align the strategy with the work being done at a European Level within the context of the European Green Deal, Farm to Fork and Biodiversity Strategy.

2. Consultation Questions

Do you consider that current legislative provisions offer sufficient safeguards to ensure animal protection and welfare? What institutional and legislative changes do you foresee and anticipate?
What key developments and codes of practice that are crucial to improving animal welfare would you like to see in place in the new set-up and/or introduced in the current operations?
What specific educational initiatives in the area of animal welfare would need to be introduced and which measures would need to be enhanced and sustained to guarantee a higher level of awareness?
What should be the role of non-Government organisations (NGOs) and research or educational institutions in the field of animal protection and welfare in the Maltese Islands?
How can primary producers be supported in any efforts made to increase animal welfare?

3. Documents

ANIMAL WELFARE CONSULTATION Background Document ENG.pdf

Help viewing documents

4. Submission of input

Individuals and organisations were invited to send their submissions on this proposed objective in writing through e-mail: ahwdconsultations.mafa@gov.mt

Submissions were received by the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Animal Rights by not later than 1 July 2022.

We thank you for your input.

Data Protection Statement the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act (Chapter 586)

The General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act Chapter 586 regulate the processing of personal data whether held electronically or in manual form. The Ministry for European Affairs and Equality collects only information which is necessary for it to perform its intended functions and is set to fully comply with the Data Protection Principles as set out in the Data Protection Legislation. Verification of the ID number provided will take place as deemed necessary. All personal data provided will be processed according to the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act (Cap 586).

In addition, please be aware of:

· Disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (Chapter 496)

As we are a public authority all documents we hold, including documents related to this public consultation process, may be released following a request to us under the Freedom of Information Act (Chap. 496), unless such request may be subject of an exemption arising from the same Act.

www.konsultazzjoni.gov.mt

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