Mexico Proposes Limits on Workload for Draft Animals

Deputy Giselle Yunueen Arellano Ávila (Morena) has introduced a reform to the General Law of Ecological Balance and Environmental Protection that would set maximum loads and work hours for draft animals such as donkeys, mules, horses and cattle. The proposal seeks to prohibit tasks that exceed the animals’ physical capacity and to protect their health, integrity and welfare. A UNAM animal‑welfare study cited in the draft noted that more than 60 % of evaluated work animals in rural communities show active injuries linked to overloads or inappropriate harnesses. The legislation would require that the limits be defined in Official Mexican Standards and other applicable regulations, and it has been referred to the Environment and Natural Resources Committee for further consideration. “Los animales de trabajo ocupan una posición particularmente vulnerable, pues dependen completamente de las decisiones de las personas encargadas de su cuidado,” the deputy warned, emphasizing the urgency of regulatory action.