Deputy-Ministry for Animal Resources

About the Directorate

The General Directorate of Animal Production undertakes all production activities in the animal resources sector to meet the community needs in terms of quantity, type, and quality.

Contact info.

ANML.Pro@mewa.gov.sa

Tasks and Responsibilities

1. Developing legislations and regulations for the production and productivity of livestock including slaughterhouses and holdings and distribution of production capacity according to the comparative advantages of regions in coordination with the relevant organizational unit.

2. Setting priorities and objectives of investment in the animal resources and forage sector, and ensuring that they are aligned with the strategic directions in coordination with the concerned departments.

3. Developing plans, programs, and research agenda aimed at promoting and increasing production, productive efficiency and diversity in animal products in coordination with the Veterinary Health and Control Division.

4. Strengthen animal resources production systems of all types according to the comparative advantages of the areas in coordination with Veterinary Health and Control Division.

5. Providing technical advice for animal production projects.

6. Conserving and developing indigenous livestock breeds.

7. Adopting and disseminating adapted animal breeds and the use and dissemination of appropriate techniques to increase productivity and improve quality in coordination with laboratories.

8. Develop programs and regulations for the registration and numbering of cattle and control their movements in cooperation with the concerned sector departments and other government departments (Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs).

9. Develop mechanisms for the disposal or reuse of animal residues, and ensure that they are used optimally in coordination with livestock services.

10. Setting standards for raising the quality of animal products from the beginning of the production line at the farm until the beginning of the marketing line to meet the needs of the consumer in coordination with the concerned governmental bodies (Saudi Organization for Standardization, Metrology and Quality) and in coordination with other departments concerned with the sector.

11. Develop legislation and regulations for animal welfare with those concerned in coordination with the departments of the livestock sector and international organizations (GCC, FAO, OIE) and ensure their application.

About the Directorate

The General Directorate of Animal Resources Services comprises two departments: The Department of Veterinary Facilities and the Department of Veterinary Services and Medical Supplies.

The Directorate provides all veterinary services to livestock breeders, implements animal disease detection and control plans, applies biosecurity mechanisms and imposes penalties on the violators. It has an effective role in raising for livestock breeders' awareness to increase productivity and protect people from the risk of zoonotic diseases. It also works on monitoring projects and issuing licenses of practice of the veterinary profession for veterinarian and veterinarian assistants, as well as licensing clinics and pharmacies.

Tasks and Responsibilities

1. Appling standards and conditions for public and private veterinary establishments, in accordance with approved policies and procedures.

2. Monitoring diseases control programs and implementing such programs in coordination with other directorates and departments in the animal resources sector, as well as implementing prevention programs to combat epidemic diseases and monitoring the mechanism of implementation.

3. Supervising veterinary services and providing such services to animal breeders according to the approved policies and procedures in coordination with departments and directorates of all regions of the Kingdom.

4. Supplying veterinary equipment and supplies to perform tasks and field veterinary diagnostics according to the policies and procedures followed in coordination with the organizational units in the Ministry.

5. Providing technical advice to veterinary establishments.

6. Setting standards for issuance of permits and licenses for veterinary establishments and practice of the veterinary medicine profession and animal welfare in accordance with the approved policies and procedures in coordination with the relevant authorities.

7. Setting standards for veterinary education in accordance with the approved policies and procedures in coordination with the relevant authorities.

8. Performing periodic rounds to service delivery points (veterinary units and clinics) in the areas to achieve quality of performance.

9. Providing opinions on the criteria and controls of granting of sponsors (workers).

10. Developing plans and programs for centers for disease control.

11. Overseeing the operations and activities of veterinary services and ensuring their implementation in accordance with the approved policies and procedures.

12. Overseeing the operation programs of clinics and management projects (disposal of medical waste / transport of samples from clinics to laboratories / application of biosecurity for livestock projects).

13. Approve the provision of veterinary supplies, equipment and devices to the private sector, in coordination with the directorate of laboratories.

14. Supervising and implementing vector control programs.

15. Implementing prevention programs to combat epidemic diseases and following up on the mechanism of implementation.

16. Implementing programs for monitoring animal diseases and monitoring and treating cases and treatment.

17. Implementing biosecurity program on animal and poultry production projects and horse stables in cooperation with the directorates of agriculture.

18. Carrying out the functions of the Committee to consider violations of the Livestock Law, law for veterinary facilities, and law for practice of the veterinary profession.

Contact info.

ANML.Qua@mewa.gov.sa

Brief:

The General Directorate of Laboratories was established in 2003 with the aim of developing animal resources, and addressing epidemic diseases that threaten livestock, and zoonoses that threaten human health. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture continues to support the laboratories and provide them with a cadre of highly qualified specialists and sophisticated equipment.

Contact info:

ANML.lab@mewa.gov.sa

Tasks and Responsibilities:

1- Setting standards, conditions and technical controls for the establishment and operation of veterinary diagnostic laboratories and quarantine laboratories.

2- Issuing licenses for private laboratories and ensure compliance with the approved conditions and standards

3- Setting standards for the needs and requirements for animal diseases diagnosis in line with policies and procedures and in coordination with other relevant departments.

4- Following up on the results and reports of the Ministry’s veterinary laboratories and the private laboratories, in coordination with the concerned departments.

5- Supervising laboratory activities that include laboratory testing and analysis of all samples from clinics and quarantines.

6- Overseeing the implementation of diagnostic tests and ensure that they are applied to the approved standards in coordination with the concerned departments.

7- Supervising the activities of veterinary pharmaceutical products testing centers and laboratories and quality control laboratories for detecting hormone and veterinary drug residues, residues of mycotoxins, pesticides and microbes of food poisoning, and ensure implementing the approved conditions and standards, as well as submitting the necessary reports on this matter in coordination with the Veterinary Health and Control Division.

8- Assessing both locally produced and imported vaccines used in epidemiological control programs in coordination with the concerned departments.

9- Analyzing samples of field survey surveys and applied research for livestock diseases in cooperation with the relevant bodies within and outside the Ministry in line with the Ministry's strategy

10- Theoretical and practical training of the Ministry’s employees on the operation of various laboratory equipment and appliance in the field of veterinary and botanical laboratories.

11- Participating with relevant bodies in research on the development of production and quality control of veterinary vaccines, biological products and laboratory diagnostics.

12- Developing standard lab work methods and laboratory quality systems and apply them to private laboratories

13- Providing consultancy and technical studies in the field of specialization.

About General Directorate of Quarantines:

The Directorate is responsible for developing policies and plans aimed at protecting animal and plant resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia by controlling the spread of epidemic diseases and transboundary agricultural pests.

Contact info:

ANML.Qua@mewa.gov.sa

Tasks and Resonsibilities:

1. Implement legislation, policies and technical regulations on the activities of animal and plant quarantines and aquatic animals in the areas and ensure their application.

2. Implement the technical policies, legislation and regulations related to quarantine activities carried out by the relevant sectors.

3. Supervise the implementation of all quarantine activities in the Kingdom and ensure their conformity with the policies, procedures and legislations adopted.

4. Issue import, export and transit permits for live animals, hatching eggs, chicks, aquatic animals and unprocessed animal and plant products.

5. Supervise the movement of imported, exported and in transit consignments to prevent the entry of animal and aquatic animals' diseases and epidemics, and plant pests into the Kingdom.

6. Ensure that the quarantine in the Kingdom's ports and the quarantine in the exporting countries authorized by the Kingdom examine all imported, exported and in transit consignments to ensure that they are free of infectious and epidemic diseases and plant pests. In addition to implementing subsequent quarantine procedures including treating, clearing, executing, re-exporting or quaranting in coordination with the Animal Resources Risk Assessment Division.

7. Setting up for the auditing and examination of documents of imported, exported and in transit consignments.

8. Distributing circular among all quarantine at the Kingdom's ports of consignments infected with diseases, epidemics and plant pests.

9. Provide materials and supplies required for all quarantine in the areas and ensure its implementation and function in accordance with to the procedures adopted.

10. Study and analysis of periodic reports received from quarantine on animal, plant and aquatic organisms' consignments.

11. Develop plans and programs and field visits timetable to all quarantine in the areas and implement them to ensure functioning in accordance with the procedures adopted.

12. Implement standards for the preparation of horse import and export permits after ensuring that they are free of the epidemic and infectious diseases and ensure compliance with horses import conditions of the Kingdom.

13- Approve the opening or closing of the international quarantine of countries exporting to the Kingdom ensure functioning.

Overview:

King Abdulaziz Arabian Horse Center at Dirab was established in 1381AH (1961 AD). The Center holds the name of the founder of the Kingdom, which is the home land of the Original Arabian Horses. The Center is dedicated to preserve the heritage of the Arabian horses as it still has a herd of pure Desert Bred Original Arabian Horses descended from the herd of the founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdul Aziz, and groups of the Original Arabian Horses of other breeds in order to improve the breeding, as well as to maintain the old Saudi Desert Bred Arabian horses which go back to the well-known breeds in the Arabian Peninsula. The center takes great care for the welfare of the Arabian Horses at local level, it also represents the Kingdom in the International Arabian Horses Organizations, and applies the International rules and regulations related to the welfare, registration and movement of the horses.

King Abdul Aziz Arabian Horse Center is located at Dirab, which is an agricultural area about 35 km away from the southwest of Riyadh. The area of the Center is about one million square meters. The estimated number of the horses at the Center is 280, the number of registered horse owners is 7700, and the number of horses registered in the Center as of 16/4/2017 is 24600.

In 2016, the Center held the top position in Registering Arabian horse with 3137 registered horses.

Functions and services:

• The King Abdul Aziz Arabian Horse Center is the official authority for registering Arabian Horses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and representing the Kingdom in relevant International Arabian Horses Organizations which fall under the purview of the Ministry as per the Royal Decree No. 924 / m dated 27/9/1417AH (4/2/1997).

• Taking great care for the welfare of the Kingdom's Arabian Horses, that are currently reside in the Center, and all the related services such as nutrition, veterinary care, cultivation of feed needed, training and holding Arabian horse shows.

• Providing advice and technical opinions to those who are interested in Arabian horses.

• Coordinating with international organizations in developing plans and programs for information systems, export and import systems and official documentation.

• Issuing registration certificates for the Arabian Horses in the Kingdom, Arabian Horse Stud Book periodically and passports for Arabian horses, as well as issuing horses passports.

• Setting Arabian Horses production plans at the Center and preserving rare breeds and the heritage of the Arabian horses.

• Hosting many visitors who are interested in the Arabian horses and the country’s senior officials, ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps.

• Holding shows to view the Center’s production of the Arabian horses.

• Participating in national festivals such as the National Festival of Heritage and Culture in Janadriyah and equestrian sports activities.

• Supervising Arabian horse beauty contests in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which are held by the private sector, pursuant to the High Order No. 4291 / MB, dated 09/05/1428AH (25/5/2007).

Objectives:

• Official Documentation to preserve the Arabian Horses pedigree.

• Setting the means and methods of the proper welfare of the Arabian Horses.

• Holding activities related to the Arabian Horses following the international rules and regulations.

• Taking part in raising awareness and offering advice and guidance to horse owners.

e-mail:

E-MAIL: info@kaahcfao.com

E-MAIL: kaahc@moa.gov.sa

E-MAIL: kaahc@yahoo.com

About the Veterinary Health and Control Division:

The Division was established in 2017 as a part of the Deputy-Ministry for Animal Resources' restructuring plan. The Division functions are to draft and update the existing regulation and legislations in the area of animal health, and to develop disease control measures and strategies, in addition to setting controls over the veterinary health services.

Contact info.

animalhealth@mewa.gov.sa

Duties:

1) Develop legislation and regulation of animal health, veterinary diagnosis and treatment services, and oversee the implementation of these legislation and regulation to meet the desired goals.

2) Establish legislation and criteria on the safety of animal products in cooperation with relevant authorities to ensure the safety of foods of animal origin.

3) Establish legislation and criteria on domestic animal quarantine in accordance with approved health and veterinary policies.

4) Establish legislation and criteria on the production and development of veterinary vaccines in the Kingdom in cooperation with the General Directorate of Laboratories.

5) Communicate with international animal health organizations to get information on diseases that may affect public health and animal health.

6) Develop criteria and requirements on slaughterhouses' workers and veterinary animal care facilities' workers.

7) Develop standards for veterinary vaccines used in the Kingdom in coordination with the General Directorate of Laboratories and the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.

8) Evaluate vaccines used in epidemics disease control programs in coordination with the General Directorate of Laboratories.

9) Develop plans and programs to combat zoonoses to reduce their transmission to humans in cooperation with the concerned departments and government agencies.

10) Develop plans and programs to protect the animal resources in the Kingdom from the risks of environmental pollution in cooperation with the Deputy-Ministry for Environment and other stakeholders.

11) Develop plans and programs for epidemiological surveillance and control, including a mapping of animal epidemic diseases, immunization programs and animal disease prevention.

12) Specify the types of diagnostic tests for animal diseases and in the Kingdom and oversee the application of these tests achieving the desired goals.

13) Develop animal welfare policies under the animal welfare Act in accordance with its regulations and in coordination with other relevant authorities and follow up their implementation.

About Animal Resources Risk Assessment Division:

The Division was established on 22/12/2016 to assess the risks that may affect animals, including all epidemics, transboundary, infectious and endemic, and zoonotic diseases, environmental hazards and other risks which may affect the human health in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Contact info.

ANML.Rsk@mewa.gov.sa

Duties:

1) Develop mechanisms and methodologies for monitoring and assessing risks related to the animal resources sector in line with the best practices.

2) Identify risks related to the animal sector and cooperate with relevant units to mitigate them.

3) Assess the likelihood of disease spread or entry into the Kingdom and evaluate the consequences.

4) Identify all animal diseases and epidemics and their impact on human health and economy.

5) Develop and update lists of all animal diseases and epidemics, and report to the concerned authorities to take the appropriate action accordingly.

6) Study and analyze the reports issued by international organizations concerned with aquatic animal diseases and circulate all reports on animal diseases, aquatic diseases and plant pests to the concerned authorities.

7) Develop a database of veterinary data and disease spread and share it with breeders and stakeholders.

8) Coordinate with the General Administration of Information Technology regarding the e-services system of animal resources.

9) Develop plans and programs for information centres and early warning canters.

10) Issue periodic and annual reports and statistics related to the animal resources sector after coordination with the relevant authorities within the sector.

11) Supervise the implementation of specific disease contingency plans established by the Veterinary Health and Control Division.

12) Develop mechanisms, methodologies and conditions according to approved models to evaluate the work in the quarantines and the countries of import in coordination with the concerned departments.

13) Implement the procedures for imposing or lifting import ban until the final decision is issued and to inform the concerned authorities accordingly to implement it.

14) Evaluate the epidemiological situation in the countries of import, as well as countries of export, and assess the risks that may result from importing or banning import from those countries following OIE recommendations and with the participation of stakeholders within the sector. Also, prepare and submit final reports and recommendations accordingly.

15) Assess the risks associated with the work of international quarantines exporting to the Kingdom and submit appropriate reports and recommendations in this regard.

16) Cooperate with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and other relevant international organizations and report to them the animal health and epidemiological situation in the Kingdom.

Deputy Ministry for Animal Resources

Agency Responsibilities

Departments

Agency Topics

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