2014 News

Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines - Exhibited Animals Open for Public Consultation

Date: 24th March

The proposed Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines - Exhibited Animals are now open for public consultation for a period of 60 days until 22 May 2014. 

The proposed national standards are intended to create improved and nationally consistent rules for the care and management of animals kept for exhibition purposes at facilities such as zoos, fauna parks, wildlife parks, aquariums and museums with live animal exhibits.

An associated Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared. The statement identifies the costs and benefits of protecting the welfare and security of exhibited animals, and addresses the need for standards.

Australian Ministers responsible for Primary Industries are seeking views from interested parties about how well the:

• proposed standards and guidelines will ensure the welfare and security of exhibited animals, and
• consultation RIS demonstrates the need for the standards, and identifies the key costs and benefits of the proposal.

The Consultation RIS incorporates a number of questions which respondents are encouraged to answer. 

The relevant documents can now be viewed and downloaded from the NSW Department of Primary Industries website at:

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/have-your-say

NSW Department of Primary Industries is coordinating this national initiative between government, industry and welfare groups on behalf of all national, state and territory jurisdictions. The consultant firm Tim Harding and Associates is conducting the national consultation process on behalf of the national project.

Making a submission

Submissions can be lodged by:

Email   exhibitedanimalsRIS@yandoo.com

Or by post to: 

Animal Welfare Standards Public Consultation
Tim Harding & Associates
PO Box 5113
Cheltenham East Vic 3192

Respondents are encouraged to forward their comments by email.  The same email address should be used to ask any questions about the consultation process.

The 60 day consultation period commenced Monday 24 March 2014 and closes on Thursday 22 May 2014.