Understanding the legal framework addressing livestock issues: A Bangladesh perspective

Abstract

After independence, the economy of Bangladesh has started to move forward on the basis of its agricultural production in oppose to technical and mechanical perspective. One of the most important components of agriculture is rearing livestock. Obviously, the focal point of the economic growth puts light on production of crops including horticulture, livestock rearing, fisheries, forestry, etc. Besides a sufficient allocation of budget, a well-defined and well-structured legal frame work is indispensable to move further towards economic progression. Livestock is considered as a crucial component in respect of cultivation purpose as the agricultural production process, and post production activities are almost depended on livestock. As time goes on, dependency on agricultural production has been shifted on technology and the traditional household livestock rearing is now converted into commercial ‘Agro Farming’. Regrettably no significant initiatives were taken to set a legal framework to deal with various aspects of livestock until 2005. Since then a number of Acts have been passed for the protection of various aspects of livestock including food safety, health safety, welfare of livestock, slaughtering rules, and maintaining quality of meat. Apart from that few Acts have been passed to setup diverse regulatory bodies which are necessary for monitoring marketing policy and controlling the quality of dairy products. The present write up intends to focus on the existing legal framework for dealing with specific aspects of livestock protection like animal disease and health care, food safety, restrictions on slaughtering, and quality of meat, and animal welfare. Also, it covers the unspoken areas of livestock aspects which are in need to come within the orbit of legal protection. In addition, the paper suggests certain measures that will contribute for actual implementation of the existing law.