(1) As responded to in March 2021, the proposed Animal Welfare Bill has not been introduced to Parliament due to reasons advanced in the response. The Bill is still in its infancy and currently only an internal departmental (DALRRD and Provincial Departments of Agriculture) document. The department will not extend the process of drafting the proposed Animal Welfare Bill as far back as Green and White Papers. The reason for this is that the draft Bill is not a new policy direction since it aims to consolidate and update animal welfare issues which are currently dealt with in different pieces of legislation. Full consultation is however envisaged with all stakeholders after the necessary approvals have been obtained within the department.
(2) The Department is in communication with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment with regard to the implementation of the recommendations of the High Level Panel on the management of lions, elephants, rhinos and leopards. Some of the recommendations will be addressed in the draft Animal Welfare Bill, however, the Departments are considering drafting regulations under the current Animals Protection Act, 1962 (Act No. 71 of 1962) to address the issues that have been identified in the report and require additional regulations.
(3) The response under part (1) above addresses the question.
(4) The response under part (1) above addresses the question.
