Animal Welfare Victoria

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (POCTA) Regulations 2008 sunset on 15 December 2019. New regulations need to be made before this date.

Following a thorough review of existing regulations and extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders, the Victorian Government has developed the proposed POCTA Regulations 2019 and associated Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS). These documents are now available for public comment.

The POCTA Regulations 2019 aim to protect the welfare of animals in Victoria by supporting requirements set under Victoria’s primary piece of animal welfare legislation – the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.

This is achieved by preventing, or minimising, harm through regulation of specific activities.

The RIS examines the costs and benefits of the proposed POCTA Regulations 2019 and considers possible alternatives.

New or amended regulations include:

· Animal transportation and tethering requirements

· Use of pain relief for mulesing

· Sale and use of wildlife safe fruit netting

· Sale and use of electronic devices

· Approvals and other processes related to the use of traps

· Operational and administrative processes for Rod Scientific Procedure record-keeping, the sourcing of animals, and training of Animal Ethics Committee members

· Fees

You are encouraged to contribute your views, expertise or ideas on the draft proposed regulations and options presented in the Regulatory Impact Statement. Consultation is open until midnight on Thursday 26 September 2019.

Copies of the RIS and the proposed regulations may be obtained from the Engage Victoria website at https://engage.vic.gov.au/prevention-cruelty-animals-draft-regulations-2019

The Engage Victoria website is the preferred method for receiving submissions.

Please note that all comments and submissions received will be treated as public documents.

Thank you and regards

Animal Welfare Victoria