Nepal National Assembly committee passes Infectious Animal Disease Control Bill

The Legislation Management Committee of Nepal’s National Assembly has unanimously passed the ‘Infectious Animal Disease Control Bill, 2083’ with amendments. The bill aims to establish a legal framework for identifying, controlling, and preventing infectious animal diseases to safeguard livestock.

During deliberations, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests, and Environment proposed the creation of a fund to provide compensation, relief, and rehabilitation to farmers and livestock rearers affected by such diseases. Ministry Secretary Dr. Rajendra Prasad Mishra advocated for practical, implementable provisions rather than strictly mandatory ones, suggesting the use of discretionary language in the text.

Lawmakers also discussed technical distinctions within the bill. Member of Parliament Jhakku Prasad Subedi called for a clear legal separation between epidemic-level diseases and infectious diseases, noting that epidemics should be viewed in the context of crises like natural disasters or COVID-19. Additionally, suggestions were made to ensure local-level implementation is managed through Chief Administrative Officers to maintain proper administrative protocols.