Ouagadougou: The Burkinabe government adopted a draft law on Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health in the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, aiming to modernize the existing legal framework and enhance Burkina Faso's veterinary health sovereignty.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the Minister Delegate in charge of Animal Resources, Amadou Dicko, stated that the new legislation intends to address shortcomings identified since the previous law's implementation in 2017. The updated code seeks to eliminate restrictions on veterinary medicine and pharmacy, improve the supply of strategic medicines, and enhance support for emerging issues.

Minister Dicko emphasized that the adoption of this code will provide Burkina Faso with a robust legal framework to ensure animal health, combat zoonotic diseases, and ensure the availability of safe veterinary medicines. Key innovations include recognizing the status of official veterinarians, incorporating themes like antimicrobial resistance, the "One Health" approach, and animal welfare.

The bill also plans to regulate traditional veterinary medicine and secure veterinary employment. Dicko highlighted the government's intention to establish a state monopoly on strategic veterinary medicines, ensuring a reliable and secure supply chain.

The minister expressed confidence that, once approved by the People's Legislative Assembly, the new code will significantly improve the prevention and control of animal diseases, bolstering food security and the country's veterinary health sovereignty.