Livestock (Amendment) Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2022

LIVESTOCK (AMENDMENT) RULES AND REGULATIONS OF BHUTAN, 2022 Royal Government of Bhutan Ministry of Agriculture and Forests Page 1 of 8 Details of amended & new sections inserted in the Livestock (Amendment) Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2022 Sl.No. Chapter Sections of Livestock Rules & Regulations, 2017 amended New section inserted 1 I - Preliminary 1 2 II - Breeding, Artificial Insemination & Embryo Transfer 26 26A 3 VIII - Zoonosis Management 143(2), 143(4), 144, 146, 147, 148, 149, 151, 152, 153, 154, 162, 163, 165, 166, 167 146A, 166A 4 X - Offences and Penalties 209, 210, 211, 212, 215, 216 216A, 217A, 217B, 217C 5 XI - Miscellaneous 225 (Definitions of Animal Shelter, Local Authority, Pet Animal) Definition of “Premises” Page 2 of 8 PREAMBLE In exercise of the authority granted by Section 36.1 of the Livestock Act of Bhutan, 2001 and in accordance with the Executive Order No. C-4/2022/1400 dated 3 October 2022 of the Lhengye Zhungtshog; the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests hereby adopts the Livestock (Amendment) Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2022 to facilitate the implementation of the Livestock Act of Bhutan, 2001 and additional Livestock Management and Regulatory Provisions issued by the Lhengye Zhungtshog. CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY Title and commencement 1. This Rules and Regulations is called the Livestock (Amendment) Rules and Regulations of Bhutan, 2022. CHAPTER II BREEDING, ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION AND EMBRYO TRANSFER Establishment of designated farms 26A. Any applicant intending to establish a pet breeding facility shall register with the Technical Department. Page 3 of 8 CHAPTER VIII ZOONOSES MANAGEMENT Registration and vaccination of pet animals 143. Pursuant to section 20.2 of the Act, the following rules shall apply for the management of pet animals to control the spread or outbreak of zoonotic diseases: (2) The livestock office shall assign a pet registration number and digital identification number (microchip number), and issue a pet registration card. (4) The owner of pet animal including animal shelter shall be responsible to register and digitally identify their pet animal or animals under their care with the livestock office and ensure timely vaccination, deworming and care of the pet animal; and 144. The pet owners shall keep their pets within their premises and if taken to public places they shall be properly secured to avoid any harm to the public, other animals and environment at all times. 146. A pet animal not registered and not digitally identified as per the provisions of this Rules or deregistered shall be considered as stray animal and shall be subjected to control measures prescribed by the Ministry. 146A. Any pet entering the country for a certain period of time shall be registered at the point of entry and deregistered while leaving the country at the point of exit by the Regulatory Authority. Registration of animal shelters 147. An animal shelter shall be registered with the relevant authority after obtaining technical clearance from the Technical Department and fulfilling all the technical requirements and standards prescribed by the Ministry. Rabies vaccination 148. Pursuant to section 20.2 of the Act, all pet animals shall be vaccinated as per the National Rabies Prevention and Control Plan issued by the Ministry. 149. The pet owners including animal shelters shall ensure vaccination of their pets at the age of one month or within one month of the possession of the animal as pets. Page 4 of 8 151. Pursuant to section 20.5 of the Act, any person bitten or otherwise caused injury by a suspected or infected animal shall immediately report to the nearest human health facility for medical intervention. 152. Pursuant to section 20.4 of the Act, vaccination of the livestock breeding stock shall be carried out as prescribed in the National Rabies Prevention and Control Plan. 153. Pursuant to sections 20.2 and 20.4 of the Act, pets and livestock exposed to rabies infection shall be managed as prescribed in the National Rabies Prevention and Control Plan. 154. The mass vaccination of stray dogs and cats in rabies endemic areas shall be carried out by the Local Authority with assistance from the Technical Department, civil society organizations, local communities and other relevant stakeholders following the procedures prescribed in the National Rabies Prevention and Control Plan. Dog and cat population management 162. The Local Authority shall be responsible to ensure that effective measures are taken to prevent the uncontrolled increase in the dog and cat population within its area following the procedures prescribed by the Ministry. The Local Authority may obtain the assistance of the Technical Department, civil society organization or animal welfare organizations and local communities while carrying out animal birth control programmes. 163. The pet owners including animal shelters shall present their pets that are not registered for breeding purpose to the nearest livestock centre for sterilization within four months of age or within one month of possession. 165. The Local Authority shall be responsible to ensure the provision of facilities to manage free-roaming pet dogs. 166. Where a pet is detained and impounded by the Local Authority; (1) The pet owner or duly authorized claimant shall claim the pet within a week upon payment of charges for management of the pet upon production of proof of registration. Page 5 of 8 (2) If the pet is not registered, the pet owner shall be required to pay the applicable fines in addition to payment of stipulated fees for registration before being released to the owner. (3) The pet shall become the property of the Local Authority and shall be auctioned to the public or subject to the control measures prescribed by the Ministry if the owner does not claim the pet within a week. 166A. Pursuant to section 22.2 of the Act, any registered pet may be deregistered upon payment of deregistration fees and shall be subject to control measures prescribed by the Ministry. 167. Any neutered stray dogs shall be properly identified by ear notching. CHAPTER X OFFENCES AND PENALTIES Penalties for violation of zoonoses management 209. If the Local Authority detects that an owner of the animal shelter, pet shop, grooming and training centre, breeding kennel or cattery does not possess a valid registration certificate as provided in the Rule 147 of this Rules, the Local Authority shall issue a formal notice requiring the owner or custodian to register the establishment within one month. If the owner or custodian of the establishment does not comply: (1) The owner shall be liable to pay a fine of Nu. 50,000.00 per establishment; and a second formal notice shall be issued requiring the owner to register the establishment within one week. (2) If the owner fails to comply even after second formal notice, the operation of the establishment shall be closed and animals in the shelter, pet shop, training centre, breeding kennel or cattery shall be confiscated upon levy of Nu. 200.00 per animal or Nu. 100.00 for up to fifty birds. 210. The Local Authority, upon detection of unregistered pet animals, shall issue formal written notice requiring the owner or custodian to register the pet within five working days. In the event, the owner or custodian fails to register the pet within the stipulated Page 6 of 8 time, the owner or custodian shall be liable for a fine of Nu. 1,000.00 per pet and additional fine of Nu. 50.00 for each day of delay in registration. 211. If the owner fails to secure the pet dog suspected or infected with a zoonotic disease within their premises and releases it in the public places, the pet owner shall be liable for a fine of Nu. 5,000.00. In the event, the pet causes injury or sickness to the person, the owner shall be also liable for payment of medical costs, labour days lost, or production loss in case of injury to animal or cost of property damaged. 212. A person who translocate dogs or stray animals from one area to another prohibited under Rule 168 of this Rules including allowing the stray dogs to follow them to their trekking or hiking places shall be liable for a fine of Nu. 5,000.00 per animal. 215. If an owner of the pet animal fails or refuses to restrain the pet within their private premises or dog shelter and let loose in public places, the pet owner shall be liable for a fine of Nu. 1,000.00 per animal per day. 216. If an owner fails to secure the pet while being taken to public places, the pet owner shall be liable for a fine of Nu. 1,000.00 per animal. In the event, the pet causes injury or sickness to the person, the owner shall be also liable for payment of medical costs, labour days lost, or production loss in case of injury to animal or cost of property damaged. 216A. Any person who abandons animals shall be liable for payment of fines of Nu. 5,000.00 per animal and the animal shall be confiscated. 217A.Any animal welfare organization, Tshethar Tshogpa, animal shelter owner or individual who releases the animal in contravention to prescribed standards and guidelines shall be liable for payment of fines of Nu. 5,000.00 per animal. 217B. Any person or agency who feeds stray animals in public places, highways or roadsides shall be liable for payment of fines of Nu. 5,000.00 per instance. 217C. The fine amount for the repeated offence shall be double the previous amount imposed for the same offence. Page 7 of 8 CHAPTER XI MISCELLANEOUS Definition: 225. In addition to the definitions under section 3 of the Livestock Act of Bhutan 2001; and Livestock Rules and Regulations of Bhutan 2017, the following terms have been amended or added, and shall have the meaning ascribed to them in this section, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: “Animal shelter” means an area or premise where animals are kept by the Local Authority, individual or agency for humanitarian reasons. “Local Authority” means both elected and appointed offices in Gewog, Dungkhag, Thromde and Dzongkhag. “Pet animal” means dogs, cats, and other companion animals. “Premises” means within their property boundary where a single household resides or within the apartment where multiple households reside in the building. Page 8 of 8 ANNEXURE – I: SCHEDULE OF FEES Sl. No. Type of Fees Amount 6.1 Registration fee for pet animal and establishment (Rule 172) 1 Microchipping (for digital identification of pet) Nu. 250.00 2 Pet registration Nu. 100.00 3 Pet deregistration Nu. 350.00 4 Animal shelter registration Nu. 1,000.00 5 Pet shop registration Nu. 2,000.00 6 Breeding pets, kennel or cattery Nu. 2,000.00