New legislation has been passed increasing fines for cruelty to animals.
The law is dubbed the Animal Welfare Act and according to Agriculture Minister Clarence Rambharat,the Act was proclaimed by the President last month.
The legislation states that “Any person who cruelly bats, ill-treats, starves, overdrives, overrides, overloads, abuses, tortures or otherwise mistreats an animal, is liable to a fine of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000) and to imprisonment for a term of 5 years.
Rambharat believes it brings T&T in line with some first-world countries.
He said government will monitor the new law and determine, alongside stakeholders, whether changes are needed.
Rambharat said work is also ongoing on the creation of animal welfare standards for which a draft has already been developed.
Here is a look at what else is included in the Act, which came into effect on June 1st, 2021:
Notice of Change Under the Tenth Schedule Regulations 28
Animal (Diseases, Importation, Health and Welfare) Act
Please be informed that THE ANIMAL (DISEASES AND IMPORTATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL, now the
ANIMAL (DISEASES, IMPORTATION, HEALTH AND WELFARE) ACT, takes effect on Tuesday June 1st
2021, after being Proclaimed by Her Excellency, Paula Mae Weeks, President of the Republic of Trinidad
and Tobago to bring the new provisions into law.
As a result of the new Act, the following will take effect under the TENTH SCHEDULE Regulation 28:
1. Inspection Fees (Payable to the Comptroller of Customs and Excise):
(a) For every Horse or Mare – $20.00
(b) For every Donkey, Cattle or Mule – $10.00
(c) For every Goat, Pig or Sheep -$5.00 per animal or $50.00 per consignment whichever is the lesser;
(d) For every Dog, Cat or other animal other than those provided for in paragraphs (a) to (c) $10.00
2. Overtime Fees (Payable to the Inspector):
(d) Mondays to Fridays: —
(i) between 4.00 p.m. and 10.00 p.m. – $800.00 per consignment;
(ii) between 10.00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. – $1000.00 per consignment;
(e) On Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays – $1000.00 per consignment.
3. Import Permit Fees (Payable to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry to which Agriculture
has been assigned):
(a) Live Animals – $100.00
(b) Carcasses and animal products imported under Regulations 18, 20 and 21 for commercial use –
$100.00
4. Export Permit Fees (Payable to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry to which Agriculture
has been assigned):
(a) Export Permit – $50.00
(b) Endorsement – $50.00
5. Permit Re-issue Fee (payable to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry to which Agriculture
has been assigned):
(a) Re-issue of a Permit – $150.00
Please be guided accordingly.
Dr. Michelle Mellowes
Ag. Director
Animal Production and Health Division
Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries
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