MOSCOW, September 15 (RAPSI) – A bill envisaging an amendment of Russia’s Code of Administrative Offences with the aim to introduce stricter liability for withholding information on mass epizootic outbreaks has reached the State Duma.

It is proposed to increase fines and introduce penalties for repeated violations, according to the document.

Authors of the bill cite higher number of the respective violations registered in 2016 through 2018 and lower amounts of imposed fines as a proof that the current punishments are not enough to prevent such wrongdoings.

The bill also envisages the introduction of liability for failures to comply with regulations governing animal disease control as to quarantine pests and highly contagious diseases resulting in wide spreading thereof.