| Livestock Policy: |
The Agriculture Sector provides for up to 42% of the National Gross Domestic Product (NGDP) and up to 80% of the labour opportunities and the related income generation to Uganda's more than 25 million people. The animal industry accounts for about 17% of the Agricultural Gross Domestic Product (AGDP) and 9% of the National Gross Domestic Product. Up to one third of the total national households are involved in livestock industry related activities.
Uganda's climate favours animal farming since natural, improved pastures and supplement feeding is available for all ranges of animals. The meaning of animals is defined by OIE International animal health code as: mammals, birds and bees among others. As a developing country Uganda has had various technical and non technical constraints in the animal industry, however, these are being addressed through better policies, regulatory framework and institutional strategies that has started yielding quantitative, qualitative, safe and wholesome animals and their products.
The single most difficult issue in the developing countries where the majority of animals are not confined is the easy with which trans-boundary animal diseases may be acquired and propagated. This is largely due to the predominant pastoral, communal and back yard farming systems that tend to farm different kraals / herds/ flocks at the same time on the same open ranges. Many countries with such systems have previously had difficulties to introduce effective disease and vector control strategies and also conduct effective animal movement control.
By policy and regulations, Uganda is moving away from such systems to commercial and profitable farming to which animal confinement / movement control is an obligation (Technical guidelines on animal movement control have been made for immediate implementation). These guidelines are being followed by the sanitary standards operating procedures (SSOP) that are HACCP or risk based up to farm level.
Uganda is vigorously pursuing policies, the regulatory framework and its enforcement so as to conform to SPS measures on animal health and food safety since we are members of the WTO, the OIE and the Codex Alimentarius. The East African Community has approved its SPS Code harmonizing the standards and procedures for certifying the health and safety of animals and animal products thus facilitating their movements / trade into, out of and within the Community.
The National Bill on Food Safety and its multi-sector stakeholders related to SPS/food safety for implementation will also go along way to ensure meat and other animal products quality, safety and wholesomeness. The Bill will use the food chain based risk analysis, risk management principles and procedures right from policy, production, harvesting, handling, storage, processing, laboratory analysis, inspection and certification, distribution and finally to the consumer.
Uganda's veterinary services have been restructured and emphasize animal epidemic disease control, animal: health / production / marketing regulatory and standards enforcement at the centre with the backup extension / advisory services at the local governments. The private sector are the investors and implements. Communication with the lowest veterinary units by fixed phone, fax, mobile phone and e-mail has rapidly improved. Any disease outbreaks are reported immediately for control purposes. A national surveillance system that conducts disease search and intelligence gathering for action is in place in all the districts. An identification / traceability system for animals and animal products is under plan for implementation up to the lowest levels. Village animal and animal products export promotion centres / herds are to be introduced too.
Farming and agro-processing is a private issue but government has and will continue to give a technical conducive environment in deficient areas. It is doing so to provide technical infrastructure and services for the promotion of production for export in meat, milk, hides and skins and honey. Latter, the private sector is to take over after a level of development has been achieved.
Policy:
The conducive macro-economic policies on economic that are available and in use with their strategic plans of action are as follows:
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Economic liberalization, divestiture and privatisation
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The new Constitution
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The decentralisation / democratisation of society
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The universal primary education, public service restructuring, the poverty eradication action plan (PEAP)
- The plan for modernization of agriculture (PMA)
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The national delivery of veterinary services policy
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The national veterinary drug policy
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The national apiculture policy
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The national hides, skins and leather policy
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The animal breeding policy
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The food and nutrition policy
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The animal feeds policy
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The national environmental protection statute
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The Uganda national bureau of standards policy
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The national water policy
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The national health policy
Regulatory frameworks:
The conducive legal / regulatory framework available and in use as applicable are as follows:
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The new Constitution
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The MAAIF restructuring report of year 1998 and 2000
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The Animal Diseases Act 1964, including 1964 Rules, 1968 rules, 1968 importation of poultry and poultry products, 1997 rules making BSE, IBD and Fowl Pox animal disease, 2003 selective ban on importation of cattle, beef, semen, ova, embryos, bone, bone meal and other cattle protein preparations in relationship to BSE, 2005 Statutory Instruments making bees animals and bee diseases as animal diseases while also setting rules for honey and other bee products quality and safety
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The Rabies Act 1964
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The Cattle Trading Act 1964
- The Hides and Skins Act 1964
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The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1970
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The Animal (Straying) Act 1964
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The Animal (Prevention of Cruelty) Act 1957
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The Cattle Grazing Act 1964
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The Public Health Act 1964 (Meat and Milk Rules)
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The Code of Meat Inspection Uganda 1973
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The Food and Drug Act 1964
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The National Drug Authority Policy and Statute 1994
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The Animal Breeding Act 2000
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The Uganda National Bureau of Standards 1993 and 1998
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The National Water Statute
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The National Meat Body Regulation in the making
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The Food Safety Bill
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The WTO Bill in the making
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The National Environmental Protection Statute
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The East African Community Sanitary Phyto-sanitary Bill in the making
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The WTO SPS Agreement and measures
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The OIE international Animal Health Codes
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The Codex Alimentarius on food safety.
Most veterinary regulatory frame works is old as compare to the new policies. The regulatory framework is thus being reviewed or entirely reformulated to meet the new economic policies and harmonise with WTO. It will also be harmonized with the regional and international regulatory frameworks on similar issues. We expect to conform to the EAC, WTO / SPS, OIE and Codex Alimentarius standards and procedure hence the entry into the global market. |