Municipality conducts health tests on 71,609 animals this year

BY PMA RASHEED
13 May 2011, The Gulf Today 

A record number of animal disease prevention procedures have been conducted in Dubai, with 71,609 animals at various farmhouses and municipal veterinary clinics received treatment and vaccination during the first quarter of the current year.

The animal health protective measures have been carried out aimed at ensuring higher level of safety of livestock protecting them from a range of serious seasonal risks eventually derailing the food security in the emirate, revealed Dubai Municipality (DM).
The Municipality has staged a range of programmes and initiatives to ensure that the animal handlers or traders are adhering to the civic regulations and requirements on animal sheltering.
The civic authority also intensified its inspection procedures on cattle feed shipments and veterinary supplies imported through the emirate's ports during this period, aimed at reducing the number of common animal diseases.
Meanwhile, the number of animal feed shipments imported to the emirate has increased this year compared to the first quarter of the last year, as more companies entered into the market in the wake of the increasing demands for animal feed, a spokesperson of the DM said.
According to him, there has been a significant decrease in the number of animal care law violations compared to the first quarter of last year. "The civic veterinary laboratories conducted about 7,477 tests. Also, about 877 random inspections were carried out in different areas of the emirate."
"Surveys on mycotoxins in cow milk were carried out, taking samples from farms for bacterial tests. The Municipality also monitored different tools used for dairy operations to ensure safety and protect public health," the DM official pointed out.
He elaborated that approximately 1919 cases of stray animals like cats and dogs were reported during this period. "About 42,820 animals were examined before slaughtering at Dubai Abattoirs, while a number of animals were rejected prior to the slaughtering as they were unfit for human consumption."
A significant increase has been recorded in the awareness of workers in livestock farms and dairy sites, the DM spokesperson concluded.

(Pic: Supplied)

Ban lifted on bird import from GCC countries

By PMA RASHEED

18 April 2011, The Gulf Today

Dubai: The Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) has lifted a ban on import of live birds and poultry products from the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Arab region.

The MoEW had imposed the ban earlier as part of its surveillance on bird flu pandemic that communicated through import of bird products.

Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, the Minister of Environment and Water, on Sunday issued an administrative decision in this regard based on recent recommendations from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

The nod has been given to lift the ban on trading in all species of birds and their products from the GCC and the Arab countries, according to a spokesperson at the MoEW.

“The resolution specifies entry of any type of bird live or slaughtered, or their products by obtaining an import permit in advance from the environment ministry,” she said.

“The exporting country should be free of bird flu at least 12 months before the date of shipment, with certificates and documents from government agencies to prove that the products are free from virus or contamination,” she added.

“The shipment of live birds should carry veterinary health certificate from competent authorities of the exporting country to ensure that they are noted affected with any type of infectious disease. Also the importer should produce a certificate issued by an accredited laboratory within a period not exceeding 21 days of the export that the birds or products have been tested clinically,” elaborated the ministry official.

“In the case of breach of any condition, the imported consignment will be rejected and returned to the country of origin or will be confiscated and destroyed in the UAE in accordance with the quarantine procedures,” she concluded.

(Pic used for illustrative purpose)

Environment ministry warns erring vets

By PMA RASHEED

The Gulf Today, 1 Aug 2010

The UAE authorities are putting solid measures governing the practice of veterinary medicine in the UAE.

This move has been initiated as several vet clinics were found to be engaged in malpractices and were found to employ unlicensed veterinarians and non-specialists to work in their laboratories.

The Ministry of Environment and Water (MoEW) will further enforce the regulations in this regard on the 500 veterinary practitioners and technicians currently working in the country, according to a senior ministry official.

Mohammad Hassan Shamsi, Director of Livestock Development Department at the MoEW, said, "A total of 92 registered veterinary health facilities are currently operational across the country, carrying out therapeutic and diagnostic treatments for animals, including immunisation of animals and birds against infectious diseases."

"About 200 veterinary establishments, such as pharmaceutical firms and warehouses are also functioning in the country," he added.

Shamsi pointed out that the federal law No.10/ 2002 on veterinary practice strictly controls unlicensed vet professionals to employ veterinarians in such facilities.

"The candidates aspiring to practice as veterinary doctors should have a bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine and surgery from an internationally-approved university. They also should obtain a licence from the MoEW after undergoing eligibility tests," he elaborated.

"Expatriate candidates should have veterinary practising experience for a period of not less than five years to work as an independent veterinarian, while the experience criterion for Emiratis is two years," he noted.

Also, according to him, the ministry should be notified about the facility a vet works at. The vets also are not permitted to work in more than one clinic at the same time.

"If any animal is suspected of being infected with contagious disease, the veterinarian should immediately report the case to the ministry or concerned local authorities in the particular emirate," he pointed out.

"Necessary preventive measures should be taken within 24 hours, and the place and address of the animal's owner must be verified," added Shamsi.

"The veterinary doctor will be subject to legal action if he is found to cause any damage to an animal arising out of an error or technical inaccuracies in diagnosis and prescription of appropriate treatment," he added.

(Image used for illustrative purpose)