Earlier this week, our House of Representatives saw the second reading of a new bill, which discussed a number of amendments made to the Veterinary Services Act. These amendments are an essential response to present exigencies: Not only will these changes ensure a higher standard of living for our pets and livestock, but the health benefits are meant to leave a direct positive impact on the health of our community as well.
In my speech, I opined how these new laws will certainly leave substantial and positive changes on a number of levels. While the animals’ interests remain at heart, we based these changes on the necessary stakeholder dialogue, as well as the scientific research readily available.
For instance, this law will help ensure added traceability on the medicinal products used by our vets. This allows the Government, through the Veterinary Regulation Directorate, to have added visibility on the standards used in the manufacture, distribution and use of veterinary medicinal products.
From now on, animals and livestock will no longer be administered medicines in unnecessary situations, but rather, only when needed. This change is meant to counter the rise of anti-microbial resistance in our livestock, and decrease the natural resistance to available medicine.
We also amended the law to cover all medicinal products used by veterinarians in our country. Previously, the law covered only limited medicinal products. Such added clarity will help all relevant authorities maintain a more clear perspective on the current general health of our livestock, and thus, react even more proactively when encountering new threats.
These changes will bring the necessary peace of mind for all those involved. This new law ensures that the medicines used on our animals is standardised, utilised professionally, and do indeed preserve the health of the animal, while limiting the possibility of any long-term individual and societal effects.
The added enforcement on medicinal products will also leave the animals with an elevated quality of life than today. This ensures that animal owners, consumers and stakeholders alike, are protected further against lurking threats, while proving our animals with an added quality of life. This peace of mind will help encourage consumers to resort to local produce even further, rather than revert to other unregulated products, which may pose a direct risk to his own personal health.
Maltese and Gozitan citizens are more aware and attentive on the food that they are consuming; they are also able to conduct research and ask pertinent questions as to the origin of the product they are purchasing. It is with these new regulations that we ensure that our public officials take decisions which are in line with those taken at a European Union level.
Other changes taking place, thanks to these regulations, are also the additional human resources allocated to enforce these veterinary inspections. Presently, only veterinary officials are allowed to do such important checks. This, however, has led to a significant waiting list, for all those local farmers requiring veterinary services on their livestock, even the most basic of clerical functions. Thanks to these new laws, there will be an addition of highly-qualified officials within the Veterinary Services Department, who can undertake these tasks. Thus, we are ensuring even more stringent enforcement, and more frequent check-ups when needed.
These regulations also clarify questions on how these checks are undertaken. They include a list of obligations and rights of public officials in the exercise of their duty, including the right of access to private property, the confiscation of seized unregulated products, and the need for communication between public officials. This ensures that whatever actions are undertaken by public officials in this sector, will be done in the most transparent, efficient and legal way possible.
A lot remains to be done: Another obstacle that livestock farmers in Malta currently face, is the limited availability of private veterinarians at certain times. Even here, the Government felt that more investment is needed in the veterinary sector. It is we who strengthened available study scholarships for those Maltese adults seeking to further their career within the veterinary sector.
These amendments are another certificate of proactivity by this Government. We remain committed in listening to, working with, and acting quickly in the best interests of our local farming community. We shall continue to provide them with the financial, logistical and political need necessary for them to thrive.
Even if only 100 days passed from the beginning of this legislature, we have already enacted multiple reforms, on different areas of life, which have improved the well-being and stability of all Maltese citizens. The changes discussed in parliament, are another certificate of this Government’s readiness in acting steadfastly and efficiently in the best interests of our local community.
Alicia Bugeja Said is Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Animal Rights