Cooperation agreement with China on veterinary medicine

The government has recently signed a cooperation agreement with mainland Chinese authorities focusing on veterinary medicine.  However, the Society for Animal Protection (Anima) is concerned as China “is not particularly exceptional in this area.”
“China is only a good partner in areas related to practice and control of diseases, but not when it comes to veterinary medicine or certification [of vets]. A great majority of vets in China do not hold any certification,” said Anima’s president Albano Martins, adding that Beijing and Shanghai are exceptions to the rule.
Currently, veterinary physicians’ practices in Macau are not assessed or controlled by a regulatory body, meaning that anyone can open an animal clinic without proof of academic training or professional certification in veterinary medicine.
Albano Martins believes that such a legal loophole is particularly problematic, now that the Animal Protection Bill has passed its first reading in the Legislative Assembly and is being discussed in detail by AL’s Standing Committee.
“Before [passing] the Animal Protection Bill, we should have regulations or a law governing veterinary medicine practice,” he stressed.
A mission led by the Secretary for Administration and Justice, Florinda Chan, signed a cooperation agreement with the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture aimed at “promoting the coordination of legislation regulating veterinary medicine practice [while joining forces] on the prevention and control of animal diseases,” the government said in a statement.
The cooperation agreement comprises of a consultation mechanism on veterinary medicine practice for mainland Chinese residents in Macau, and the need for Macau residents to take an exam to practice veterinary medicine in China.
“The idea is to have Macau residents [undergo] an exam if they want to practice veterinary medicine in mainland China but the opposite [mainland Chinese wanting to practice here] is not set to happen,” said Anima’s president.
Such an agreement does not exist in Hong Kong, he recalled, where Chinese vets have to be approved by a certification committee.
Mr Martins welcomes a first step to regulate the practice of veterinary medicine, as there are areas in which Macau can learn from China, particularly regarding epidemiological outbreaks. However, he acknowledged his concern over a cooperation agreement signed for an area in which China is not particularly exceptional.
Last October, Legislative Assembly lawmakers passed the Animal Protection Bill, which aims to reinforce sanctions for animal abuse, abandonment and promotion of animal fights, among other unlawful actions. The bill replaces legislation dating back to 1950.