The People's Majlis has accepted and sent to the Social Affairs Committee for further review a bill on animal keeping and welfare that allows fines of up to MVR 1 million for those who violate the law.

The bill was submitted to today's Majlis session on behalf of the government by Hinnavaru constituency member Mohamed Abdurrahman.

The bill was accepted unanimously by 43 members out of the 45 present at the session.

The bill states that its purpose is to establish guidelines for keeping, caring for, breeding, and trading animals sustainably and safely in the Maldives. It also aims to set rules for protecting against zoonotic diseases, importing and exporting animals, and other related standards.

The bill requires the Ministry to set and publish in the gazette basic conditions for importing animals, prohibited animals and countries for import.

The bill includes provisions for special permits for certain animal species, quarantine procedures, duty-free imports, and temporary entry of animals with tourists.

It also covers animal export and re-export regulations, and prohibited animals for export. Additionally, it includes procedures for registering pet shops and animal trading businesses.

The bill prohibits selling or displaying animals with reportable diseases. Importers of such disease-carrying animals can be fined between MVR 10,000 and MVR 1 million.

Illegal importers or exporters of animals, animal parts, or animal feed can be fined between MVR 5,000 and MVR 500,000.

The bill also sets fines of MVR 10,000 to MVR 100,000 for illegal breeding, keeping animals in unregistered facilities, or violating animal care standards. Animal abuse or abandonment in public places can result in fines of MVR 5,000 to MVR 50,000.

The bill will repeal certain existing regulations when it comes into effect, including regulations on importing live animals and birds, and part of the law on prohibited imports to the Maldives.