Model Code Of Practice For The Welfare Of Animals

This new edition of the Code is intended as a guide for all people responsible for the welfare of pigs under both intensive, deep litter and outdoor systems. Good welfare of farmed pigs will ensure that pigs cope well in their environment and that factors such as growth, reproductive performance, disease levels, injuries and death rates are within industry standards. The Code recognizes that the basic requirement for the welfare of pigs is a husbandry system, managed by trained and skilled stock-people to ensure that basic needs of pigs are met: * Readily accessible appropriate and sufficient food and water * Adequate shelter to protect from climatic extremes * Opportunity to display appropriate patterns of behaviour * Physical handling in a manner which minimizes the likelihood of unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress * Protection from, and/or rapid diagnosis and correct treatment of injury or disease * Freedom for necessary movement including to stand, stretch and lie down * Visual and social contact with other pigs This Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals has been prepared by the Animal Welfare Working Group (AWWG) for the Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC). The AWWG is made up of representatives from CSIRO, Animal Health Australia, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia, and from each of the State Departments responsible for agriculture. Extensive consultation has taken place with industry and animal welfare organisations in the development of the Code. This new edition supercedes the Second Edition, SCARM Report 66

Animal welfare considerations are becoming increasingly important for the keeping and farming of animals, both in Australia and internationally. Practices that may have once been deemed acceptable are now being reassessed in light of new knowledge and changing attitudes. The minimum standards outlined in this Code are intended to help people involved in the care and management of poultry to adopt standards of husbandry that are acceptable. Special requirements for various species are given in the appendices. This Code of Practice is intended as a guide for people responsible for the welfare and husbandry of domestic poultry. It recognizes that the basic requirement for welfare of poultry is a husbandry system appropriate to their physiological and behavioral needs. The Code emphasizes that--whatever the form of husbandry--managers, employees and all others responsible for the day-to-day needs of domestic poultry have a responsibility to care for poultry under their control.

This text is intended as a set of guidelines, which provide detailed minimum standards for assisting people in understanding the standard of care required to meet their obligations under the laws that operate in Australia's states and territories, on captive bred Emus.

This code is intended as a guide for all people responsible for the welfare and husbandry of ostriches that have been bred and/or reared in captivity. Considered in this document are the basic behavioural, anatomical and physiological needs of ostriches, irrespective of the type of husbandry practiced, or the climatic conditions to which the ostriches are exposed.

This Model Animal Welfare Act has been designed to serve as a basic template and guidance document for those interested in enacting new legislation or improving existing animal protection legislation. It has been drafted using an extensive comparative law exercise, taking into account 'best practice' in the field. Thus it is aspirational in nature; seeking to provide the best possible structures, systems and provisions to protect the welfare of animals. This may mean that countries which are just starting to establish animal welfare requirements might decide to introduce its provisions progressively. In such cases, a strategic approach (step-wise and prioritised) is recommended. This could also be considered in cases where countries already have structures, systems and provisions that have been introduced gradually over time, but remain less than optimal. The important principle is that each country works progressively towards the best possible protection for the welfare of its animal population, and indeed - as elaborated in the Three Rs approach - the eventual reduction and replacement of any uses of animals which compromise their welfare.The purpose of this Model Animal Welfare Act is to function as an 'umbrella' or 'framework' law. It represents an international unification and harmonisation of animal protection and welfare legislation, which can be adapted or modified - if the circumstances require - in Common Law as well as Civil Law systems. Elements of both legal orders have been considered and incorporated to achieve (as far as possible for the present day) a comprehensive, far-reaching and progressive approach to animal welfare legislation which takes account of the desired expedience when it comes to prevention of animal cruelty and abuse, establishing responsibility and the principle of care towards the animal, promoting the education and sensitisation of the population, as well as offering effective solutions for efficient law enforcement. This Model Act was created in order to govern people's behaviour, while other civil or religious legal systems may take a very different form (for example, be limited to 'codes' or 'edicts'). Nonetheless, elements of this Act can also be used for inspiration in creating, amending or interpreting these.

D to meet the obligations under the laws that operate in Australia's States and Territories.

This Australian Standardapplies to the production of fresh and frozen pet meat derived from animals slaughtered and processed at a processing establishment, as well as wild animals killed in their natural environment. It contains the minimum requirements for hygiene in harvesting, transportation, processing, identification, packaging and storage, to ensure a safe and acceptable product. Provision is also made in this Standardfor the use of fallen stock. The scope of the Standardis determined by risks related to the hygienic production of pet meat. Such risks are associated with: animal safety; human safety; and product substitution. In Australia, animals for pet meat must be processed in accordance with this Standard and documented work instructions or an approved Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP)-based program that consistently demonstrates equivalence with this Standard.

This Code is intended as a guide for all people responsible for the welfare and husbandry of sheep. It aims to achieve humane husbandry throughout all types of sheep enterprise. Assistance and specific advice on management and disease control in sheep should be obtained from qualified advisers.