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{
    "id": 63375,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/63375/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 304,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Mr. Lesrima",
    "speaker_title": "The Assistant Minister, Ministry of State for Provincial Administration and Internal Security",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 178,
        "legal_name": "Simon Saimanga Lesirma",
        "slug": "simon-lesirma"
    },
    "content": "there is a requirement we would have to meet. It is just like trading in other products. The World Trade Organization (WTO) Regulations must be complied with. So, with regard to trade in livestock products, the World Animal Health Organization also has its own regulations. In this country, if we are to import meat or other livestock products, we are required to comply with international regulations governing the exports, particularly on hygiene issues. This is important for this country if, indeed, we want to trade in animal products. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Bill also provides for a Board that has a wide representation of technical people who are specialists in various aspects of food safety, quality assurance, laboratory diagnostics, wildlife practice, and veterinary medicine. The animal health technicians are also taken care of in this Bill. Members of the public who have an interest in the animal and animal products industry are equally represented on this Board. The members of the Board, once appointed, will elect their own chairman unlike in the previous legislation where the President or the Minister in charge of the sector is called upon to pick a chairman from among the members of the Board. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, perhaps, during the Committee Stage, amendments need to be brought so that this Bill conforms to our current Constitution because it is talking about Ministers while the current Constitution talks of Cabinet Secretaries. I hope that at one point, the amendments will be made so that the Bill complies with the Constitution. This Bill is important at this time when the East African Community (EAC) is taking centre stage in trade. We are aware that Tanzania amended their laws a few years ago. When Kenya brings its own law, it means that we shall have harmonized our laws. The importance of this Bill is that it brings all practitioners under one law as is the practice in the rest of the world. It brings together veterinarians, university graduates, certificate holders and so on. Under this law, safety of Kenyans is underscored whether it is with regard to milk, meat, or issues to do with drug residues. This Bill is bound to bring order in the industry. We know that this industry, in the recent past, has been infiltrated by quacks. I am glad that the Minister has put in clauses to deal with quacks."
}