Dubai: Veterinary professionals in the UAE believe the new amendments stipulated in the federal law issued on October 8 will further help regulate the practice of veterinary medicine in the UAE.

The new Federal Law No. 8 of 2017 was issued by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, amending certain provisions of Federal Law No. (10) of 2002, concerning the practice of veterinary medicine.

While veterinary professionals in the UAE were previously required to obtain a licence from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), the new law imposes hefty fines and prison time for violators.

The new law also appoints the ministry as the authority concerned to approve applications for permits to practise the profession and provide support services within 30 days from the date of submission.

Dr Gonzalo Albornoz, senior veterinary surgeon at Al Reef Stables of Shaikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser, told Gulf News that the new law is needed to further ensure the efficiency of veterinary medicine in the UAE.

For the existing vets in the country, it will set the standards of academic excellence, protecting those who are meeting the provisions of the law and making the others who haven’t followed these to meet all the requirements to be a registered veterinarian and have an approved veterinary licence, he said.

Dr Albornoz, who obtained his veterinary degree from Argentina, said all professions and activities should abide by the legal framework especially when related to public and animal health.

He referred to the penalties mentioned in the new law, which impose no less than one-year imprisonment and a fine of minimum Dh10,000 and maximum Dh200,000 on those who practise the profession or provide support services without a licence.

“I believe the penalties are severe and strong enough; that is the way to make the law efficient as well, making sure all the involved people will do their best to act within the framework of that law,” added Dr Albornoz.

Meanwhile, Dr Wolf Ofner, managing director, veterinarian and partner at Blue Oasis Veterinary Clinic, told Gulf News that while the penalties are slightly steep, the amendments in the law will make violators wary.

Challenges

He pointed out the registration and licensing process at MOCCAE can easily be completed online, but expatriate veterinary professionals struggle because they have to get their equivalency certificate upon their arrival in the UAE for getting the approval.

“The process at the Ministry of Higher Education, from where veterinarians need to get an equivalency certificate to prove that the university diploma of their home country is recognised in the UAE, takes between three and four months,” said Ofner.

He also referred to an amendment made in the new federal law, which states that exports of animal diagnostic samples are prohibited without a permit from the ministry, and violators will face imprisonment and a fine of Dh50,000 to Dh1 million.

“This article could cause a problem, as the necessary diagnostic tests are sometimes not available in the UAE. How long will it take to get this permit is not clear, keeping in mind that the samples should reach the lab as fast as possible. This may not improve the quality of veterinary services in the UAE,” he commented.