Cabinet nod to Amendment to prevent contagious animal diseases

New Delhi, Oct 16 (UNI) The Union Cabinet today gave its approval to an Amendment Bill that will help prevent spread of economically important, infectious and contagious diseases in animals from one part of the country to another.

A Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, gave its consent for moving necessary amendments to the Prevention and Control of Infectious and Contagious Diseases in Animals Bill, 2005 pending in the Rajya Sabha.

Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal told mediapersons after the Cabinet meeting that the amendment will help prevent spread of economically important, infectious and contagious diseases from one part of the country to another.

It will also help establish ''controlled'' and ''eradicated areas'' within the country in order to reduce economic losses on account of major economically important infectious and contagious diseases of livestock, he added.

The Bill will help boost export of livestock and its products, including frozen semen and embryos of Indian origin from ''eradicated areas'' leading to chain of reactions for livestock development on scientific lines in the country.

Mr Sibal said it would also help control animal diseases of public health significance on a national basis and promote import and export of animals and animal products by meeting India's international obligations, he added.

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