Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council launches animal welfare programmes

As part of the efforts of the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC), in cooperation with the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), the council has launched a set of professional conformity programmes for animal-related occupations. Developed with a group of leading experts from government entities and the private sector, the programmes aim to raise the competency of workers in the animal sector, strengthen the principles of animal welfare, and improve the quality of services, as part of a unified professional framework that supports the sustainability of the animal affairs sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates.

The programmes form part of the council’s work to unify the professional requirements and standards for those working in the sector. By establishing common requirements, they ensure that competencies are qualified in line with international best practice, standardise working procedures, and raise levels of quality, safety and compliance. The programmes carry strategic importance for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates: they support quality of life, reinforce the principles of animal welfare, and strengthen the regulatory and oversight system in animal services, contributing to sustainability and to the country’s competitiveness in adopting leading global practices in the fields of quality and conformity.

The programmes also support the services economy by developing professional competencies and raising the level of professionalism across the sector, while building public confidence in the services provided and unifying professional references. This has a positive impact on public health, environmental safety and the quality of services. The programmes focus on the humane and safe treatment of animals, applying advanced standards that cover the capture, restraint, transport, sheltering and care of animals, as well as the regulation of services at pet shops and shops selling ornamental birds and fish, in line with the requirements of occupational health and safety, biosecurity, hygiene and documentation.

The conformity programmes cover eight main occupations: veterinarian, animal welfare specialist, and animal care technician, together with the manager and worker of shops selling pets, ornamental birds and fish, in addition to the technicians and supervisors responsible for handling and restraining animals across their various categories. Workers will be awarded conformity certificates once they have completed the training programmes and passed the approved examinations, ensuring they are qualified to the highest standards of competency and quality.

His Excellency Engineer Badr Khamis Al Shamili, Executive Director of the Conformity Services and Standards Sector at the council, said that developing the conformity programmes for animal affairs occupations reflects the council’s commitment to strengthening professional competencies in priority sectors and improving the quality of services, in line with the Abu Dhabi Government’s vision of building a sustainable working system founded on quality and innovation. He noted that the programmes represent an important step towards unifying professional standards for those working in the sector in a way that raises competency and compliance, strengthens animal welfare practices, and develops a more professional and sustainable working environment for the benefit of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates.

His Excellency concluded by affirming that cooperation with government entities and strategic partners supports institutional integration and the development of distinctive initiatives that improve the quality of services and raise the level of readiness in the animal affairs sector, reinforcing the position of the country and the Emirate as a leading model in developing quality and conformity systems.

Fahad Ali Al Shehhi, Acting Executive Director of the Municipal Services Operations Support Sector at the DMT, said: “We are working to develop an integrated system for animal affairs in the emirate, focused on regulating activities, strengthening workforce capabilities, and improving service quality and compliance levels. As part of these efforts, the Conformity Scheme for Personnel Services in the Animal Affairs Sector have been introduced to provide a structured process for qualifying workers and assessing their competencies, while setting out the requirements for performing their duties in accordance with clear and approved standards.”

He added: “Our cooperation with the QCC reflects the complementary legislative and technical roles of the relevant entities. It will help standardise practices, and enhance the effectiveness of oversight, while enhancing safety and biosecurity, supporting public health, community safety, and the sustainability of the sector.”