UGANDA – Authorities in Uganda have tabled the Animal Feeds Bill before Parliament for consideration into practice as the country seeks to boost the local feed capacity.

The Bill seeks to provide a legislative framework for the operationalization of the animal feed policy by regulating the production, importation, exportation, and marking of animal feeds.

To achieve its mandate, the bill proposes the establishment of an animal feed committee to regulate the feed sector.

The Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, presented the Bill during the plenary sitting of the House on Wednesday 25 October 2023 before Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa for scrutiny.

Speaking during the session, Minister Tumwebaze revealed that inadequate animal nutrition was identified as one of the factors that limit Uganda’s production of livestock products.

He added that animal feeds account for 70 percent of the production costs and therefore have a significant effect on production costs and profits.

Expounding, the minister said that the Animal Feeds Bill 2023 also provides for the application for the registration of premises and the circumstances under which a certificate of registration may be suspended or revoked.

Similarly, the Bill will establish the offices of animal feed inspectors and animal feed analysts. The animal feeds inspector shall inspect premises and seize any animal feeds that are produced contrary to the requirements of the Act.

The Billi will also give the Minister powers to make regulations, under the Act to provide for the procedures and forms to be used, for the application for registration of premises and licenses for the production, storage, transportation, or sale of animal feeds and for the fees for the paid under the Act.

According to the minister, the productivity of livestock in Uganda is low due to the prevalence of animal diseases, inadequate nutrition for the animals, scarcity of water in the semi-arid areas, lack of facilities for the storage and processing of animal feeds,

He also mentioned the lack of laboratory facilities and the lack of information, knowledge, and skills on animal feed production among actors in the sector contributes negatively to quality livestock production.

Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, referred the Bill to the Committee on Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries for consideration.