Federal Law No. (18) of 2016
Amending certain provisions of Federal Law No. (16) of 2007
Concerning Animal Welfare
We, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates
- Having reviewed the Constitution,
- And Federal Law No. (1) of 1972, concerning the competencies of Ministries and the powers of Ministers, and its amendments,
- And Federal Law No. (6) of 1979, concerning veterinary quarantine, and its amendments,
- And Federal Decree-Law No. (9) of 1983, concerning the regulation of bird and animal hunting,
- And Federal Law No. (3) of 1987, issuing the Penal Code, and its amendments,
- And Federal Law No. (35) of 1992, issuing the Criminal Procedures Law, and its amendments,
- And Federal Law No. (24) of 1999, concerning the protection and development of the environment, and its amendments,
- And Federal Law No. (10) of 2002, concerning the practice of the veterinary medicine profession,
- And Federal Law No. (11) of 2002, concerning the regulation and control of international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora,
- And Federal Law No. (16) of 2007, concerning Animal Welfare,
- And Federal Law No. (8) of 2013, concerning the prevention and control of infectious and epidemic animal diseases,
- And based on the proposal of the Minister of Climate Change and Environment, the approval of the Cabinet and the Federal National Council, and the ratification of the Federal Supreme Council,
Have issued the following Law:
Article One
The texts of Articles (1), (2), and (14) of the aforementioned Federal Law No. (16) of 2007 shall be replaced by the following texts:
Article (1):
Definitions
In the application of the provisions of this Law, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context requires otherwise:
| The State |
: |
The United Arab Emirates. |
| The Ministry |
: |
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. |
| The Minister |
: |
The Minister of Climate Change and Environment. |
| The Competent Department |
: |
The concerned department in the Ministry. |
| The Competent Authority |
: |
The local authorities concerned with animal affairs. |
| Authorized Persons |
: |
Veterinarians affiliated with the Ministry or the Competent Authority. |
| Veterinarian |
: |
A person holding an accredited bachelor's degree in veterinary medicine and licensed by the Ministry. |
| Specialist |
: |
A person academically qualified in the field of veterinary medicine or laboratories. |
| Animals |
: |
All types of animals, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, mammals, and stray and captive wild animals. |
| Stray Animal |
: |
An owned animal that roams freely without restraint and supervision from its possessor or owner, even if it knows how to return to the location of its possessor or owner. |
| Captive Animals |
: |
An owned animal that is in a certain location, dependent on others, and under the control and care of the possessor. |
| Facilities |
: |
A place where animals are kept, detained, bred, raised, slaughtered, or treated, including public parks, private places, ships, aircraft, trucks, other means of transport, and scientific research institutions where animals are kept. |
| Animal Caretaker |
: |
The guardian of the animal and the person with actual control over it, whether the owner or otherwise. |
Article (2):
Animal owners and caretakers must, as the case may be, take all necessary precautions to not harm, injure, or cause pain or suffering to animals, and in particular, must observe the following:
1. Taking into account the species of animals, their degree of development, adaptation, domestication, and their needs, in accordance with experience and scientific knowledge.
2. Not releasing any animal under their care whose survival naturally depends on them. If they wish to abandon it, it must be handed over to the Competent Department or the Competent Authority.
3. Providing a sufficient number of staff with appropriate experience, knowledge, and professional competence in matters related to the animals under their supervision and care.
4. Inspecting the animals under their supervision and care at least once a day and checking their condition.
5. Providing health care for animals and presenting them to a veterinarian for examination and treatment, and taking necessary action in this regard.
Article (14):
Anyone who commits any of the following acts shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year and a fine not exceeding (200,000) two hundred thousand dirhams, or by one of these two penalties:
1. Sexually abuses an animal.
2. Releases a diseased animal, knowing it is diseased.
3. Causes harm, injury, pain, or distress to animals.
4. Displays or trades any sick or injured animal.
Article Two
New articles numbered: (5) bis, (14) bis (1), (14) bis (2), (14) bis (3), (14) bis (4), and (16) bis, with the following texts, shall be added to the aforementioned Federal Law No. (16) of 2007:
Article (5) bis:
Facilities shall be subject to the health and technical conditions specified by the executive regulations of this Law. The Competent Authority may set additional conditions that do not contradict the provisions of this Law.
Article (14) bis (1):
Anyone who uses animals for scientific experiments without obtaining a license from the Competent Department or the Competent Authority shall be punished by imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year and a fine of not less than (50,000) fifty thousand dirhams and not exceeding (200,000) two hundred thousand dirhams, or by one of these two penalties.
Article (14) bis (2):
Anyone who violates the other obligations stipulated under the provisions of this Law and those stipulated in the regulations and decisions issued for its implementation shall be punished by a fine not exceeding (100,000) one hundred thousand dirhams.
Article (14) bis (3):
1. A criminal case for offenses committed in accordance with Article (14) bis (2) shall not be initiated except upon a written request from the Ministry or the Competent Authority.
2. Reconciliation may be made for offenses committed in accordance with Article (14) bis (2) before the case is referred to the competent court, in exchange for payment of an amount not exceeding (80,000) eighty thousand dirhams for each offense.
3. The Cabinet shall issue a decision specifying the regulations for reconciliation and the financial consideration for reconciliation for each of the offenses referred to in this Article.
Article (14) bis (4):
The Ministry or the Competent Authority may impose any of the following administrative penalties in case of violation of any provision of this Law or its executive regulations:
1. Warning.
2. Closure of the facility for a period not exceeding six months.
3. Permanent closure of the facility.
4. Revocation of the license.
Article (16) bis:
The Cabinet shall issue a decision determining the fees prescribed in accordance with the provisions of this Law.
Article Three
Any provision that violates or contradicts the provisions of this Law shall be repealed.
Article Four
This Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall come into force on the day following the date of its publication.
Issued by us at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi:-
Date: 1 Safar 1438 H
Corresponding to: 1 November 2016 AD
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
President of the United Arab Emirates