Legislators review draft law aimed at preventing animal-borne diseases

Disease monitoring of livestock and poultry will be strengthened, supported by increased vaccine research, to prevent public health risks across China, according to a draft law being reviewed among legislators.

The draft amendment to the Animal Husbandry Law was submitted to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislative body, on Thursday for second review. It had its first reading in October last year.

While calling for measures to promote monitoring and increased vaccine-related studies, the latest draft revision also highlights the importance of cultivating husbandry veterinarians and advancing technological innovation.

Individuals or departments engaged in breeding livestock or poultry mustn't discard nor dispose of sick or dead animals arbitrarily, it added.

"To protect public health and safety, the prevention and control of livestock and poultry diseases should be boosted, and the safe processing of those animals' manure needs to be optimized," Hu Keming, an official from the NPC's Constitution and Law Committee, said when introducing the draft amendment to lawmakers.

He emphasized that it is necessary to revise the law, adding "it is to adapt to new situations and higher requirements of the husbandry industry".

Also on Thursday, a draft revision to the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Women was submitted to the NPC Standing Committee for a third review. A draft, in general, will become a law in China after being reviewed three times by lawmakers.

In the draft, government agencies are ordered to provide stronger protection for women who are poor, elderly, disabled or in other difficult situations, with a greater focus on protecting women's privacy and reputations.

Responding to public concerns, such as gender discrimination in employment and sexual harassment, it allows human resources and social security departments to work with trade unions or women's federations to have regulatory talks with employers if companies are having trouble guaranteeing women's labor rights and interests.

A draft law on the protection of the Yellow River, another high-profile legal document regarding environmental protection and ecological conservation, was also placed under third review among lawmakers on Thursday.

Several other legislative items, bills and reports, including a draft revision to the Legislation Law, a draft law on barrier-free environment construction, a draft amendment to the Administrative Reconsideration Law and a draft law on reserve service personnel, were also put on the agenda for discussion at the ongoing session.