New Animal Welfare Laws

State and territory governments are responsible for animal production and welfare laws and their enforcement.For Australia’s livestock industries, the Model Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Animals (Model Codes) establish an agreed set of principles and practices. The Model Codes were endorsed by the then Primary Industries Ministerial Council. The Model Codes serve as voluntary guides for people responsible for the welfare and husbandry of a range of livestock animals.

Work is now underway to update the Model Codes and convert them into Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines. The new documents will incorporate both national welfare standards and industry guidelines for each species or enterprise. Animal welfare standards endorsed by all state and territory primary industry ministers will be implemented in state and territory legislation.

The Animal Welfare Standards website gives a progress update, background, consultative process and a submissions page on all previous and current standards and guidelines development over various livestock industries. Check it out and have your say here:

http://www.animalwelfarestandards.net.au/

How do these changes affect you?