By: Marima Njie
The African Union member states continental meeting on veterinary legislation kick-off on 30th September to 11th October in Banjul.
The continent forum is organized by Department of Livestock Services under the Ministry of agriculture.
The meeting also brought over twenty countries all over the continents to come and discuss on the collective review and update of Veterinary legislation for the AU Member states.
In delivering his speech on behalf of African Union- Inter-African Bureau for Animal resources AU-IBAR, Dr. Baboucarr Jaw, Chief Animal Health officer, said Veterinary legislation is a sine Qua non to satisfactory performance of veterinary services.
He said good veterinary legislation facilitates adherence to key fundamental principles of quality which the veterinary are expected to comply with; these are; professional judgment, independence, impartiality, integrity , and objectivity .
He added that cognizant of the need to support AU support member states and regional Economic communities, AU-IBAR initiated the process of harmonization of priority domains of veterinary legislation.
According to him, during these 11 days meeting participants will review a priority domain of your national veterinary legislation in order to make it more responsive to the need of national and regional stakeholders.
In declaring the meeting open on behalf of the minister of agriculture Mr. Momodou Mbye Jabang permanent secretary ministry of agriculture, said this meeting is yet another effort geared towards improving one of our continent very valued resources base, the livestock sector animal resources.
He added that agriculture has already been identified by the AU Agenda 2063 as a key driver of the economic transformation process on the continent.
He said in the most recent Malabo declaration of 2014, the need to make Agriculture in our continent more productive, competitive and inclusive is clearly stated. However, lot of challenges still lie ahead and these must be overcome if we are indeed to achieve this mighty goal.