SINGAPORE - A new committee has been formed to set the standards for the care and welfare of animals in Singapore.

Headed by Member of Parliament (MP) for Chua Chu Kang GRC Alex Yam, it involves animal welfare groups, the pet industry, vets and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).

The committee - which also includes MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Gan Thiam Poh - will also focus on raising standards in the pet industry with industry-led accreditation schemes for pet groomers, pet farms, breeders and shops.

It will also promote community outreach and public education on responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.

Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee gave the update on Saturday morning at the Responsible Pet Ownership roadshow.

He also said pet shops who want their licences renewed will have to carry out pre-sales screenings to ensure that pet buyers are at least 16 years old. The pre-screening is meant to lower the chances of pets being abandoned.

The licensing condition will take effect next year and more details will be made available later.

AVA will also exempt the first-year licence fee for dogs released from its pound to animal welfare groups.

Both the formation of the multi-stakeholder committee and the pre-screening of pet buyers were among the 24 recommendations put forward by the Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee (AWLRC) chaired by MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC Yeo Guat Kwang.

All 24 recommendations were accepted by the National Development Ministry, and AVA is working through the implementation plans. CHANNEL NEWSASIA