Indonesian animal welfare law has many positive aspects. Law 18 of 2009 on Husbandry and Animal Health is the main piece of animal welfare legislation.  Many features of Law 18 of 2009 are supported by regulations or work alongside other legislative acts governing different industries and animal species, such as Regulation 95 of 2012 Concerning Public Health and Animal Welfare, and Act 5 of 1990 on the Conservation of Biological Resources and their Ecosystems. Many sections of Indonesian animal welfare legislation are aligned to the Five Freedoms, or other recognised international standards, such as the OIE’s animal welfare standards. This is particularly prevalent in legislation regarding livestock. Similarly, Indonesia’s dedicated Wildlife Crime Unit and biannual animal welfare meetings are to be commended. The Indonesian Government also shows active participation in regional animal welfare issues through their ASEAN membership. The Indonesian Government also updated their Penal Code on punishments for animal cruelty, suggesting there is political will at a national level for positive change for animal welfare.

 

While there are many parts of Indonesian law to be commended, there is room for improvement in many animal welfare areas. For example, while the law dictates that livestock should be treated in accordance with the Five Freedoms throughout their lives, including during transportation and slaughter, this does not apply in the case of religious slaughter or festivals. This results in the Five Freedoms not always being guaranteed. Enforcement mechanisms are also limited. Law 18 of 2009 does not include any enforcement mechanisms and, due to delegated authority to regional or provincial governments, reports suggest enforcement of breaches to any animal welfare law is sporadic. Other areas of concern include the prevalence of dog fighting in the country, the dog and cat meat industry, and the private keeping of wild animals as pets, such as orangutans. Finally, much of Indonesian animal welfare legislation is motivated by concerns regarding the livestock industry and public health, rather than the suffering of animals more generally. 

 

The Indonesian Government has made limited efforts to improve animal welfare since the API was first published in 2014. This includes an update to the Indonesian Penal Code and holding of biannual animal welfare meetings with representation from all regions and provinces of the country. However, the Government has yet to publish an animal welfare strategy or make positive amendments to laws and regulations governing animal welfare since 2014. 

 

Animal welfare is governed by multiple Ministries in Indonesia including the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Environment and Forestry. The responsibilities of these Ministries, in relation to animal welfare, are delegated to their counterparts at regional and provincial level, with varying degrees of adherence to animal welfare legislation. Indonesia does not currently have a dedicated Ministry or department for animal welfare. 

 

The Government of Indonesia is strongly encouraged to amend their animal welfare laws to close loopholes and contradictions that contribute to the low adherence to these laws. The Government is also recommended to align these laws and regulations with the OIE standards. Furthermore, the Government is encouraged to bring all animal welfare responsibilities under one Ministry with resources for enforcement, public education and research to ensure animal welfare legislation is appropriate and in line with current scientific thinking. This includes following through on their 2014 commitments to develop a national animal welfare strategy and committee dedicated to animal welfare, which includes representatives from regional and provincial governments, as well as animal welfare organisations. Further legal and policy recommendations are associated with each Animal Protection Index (API) indicator and contained in the relevant sections of this report.