Effective Jan 1, four animal-related activities must have a licence from the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), said its director-general Datuk Dr Norlizan Mohd Noor.
He said the four activities that required licencing were animal boarding, riding and herding, animal shelters and the sale of live animals in cages.
The four activities are among 13 activities involving animals related to management, storage and care, which mandate licencing in line with Section 15 of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, Animal Welfare (Licencing Fees) Regulations 2021, he said.
Four of the 13 activities were enforced in the first phase effective Jan 1, while the rest would be enforced in subsequent phases, he said.
“However, this licencing obligation does not apply to pet owners who keep them at home,” he said in a webinar press conference today.
Elaborating on activities that need to have a licence from DVS, he said this is related to animal accommodation including shelters, animal hotels, spas for animals and pet boarding (premises that carry out animal caring activities).
Horse riding activities such as rounding up of racehorses; activities related to the management, confinement or protection of animals; as well as existing centres or premises keeping animals for sale purposes such as pet shops are among those required to obtain a licence.
Dr Norlizan said DVS provided a grace period of six months for premises owners involved in animal-related activities to obtain their licences.
He said applications for licences must be made online through the website https://awa.dvs.gov.my, with the fee charged being RM100 for a period of one year for each activity and RM50 for a three-year renewal.
He said among the conditions for the application was the preparation of a layout plan at the centre of the premises and ensuring that the five animal needs were met.
These include a suitable environment, a suitable diet, the need for it to be able to exhibit its normal behaviour patterns, to be protected from pain and injury and the right to receive treatment from a specialist or veterinarian.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency