Animal Welfare, Animal Disease - General - Legislation and Standards
A. Codes of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Animals
These have been prepared by the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC), which was established in 1989 by the then Minister of Agriculture to advise him on matters concerning animal welfare. AWAC consists of members from the following backgrounds: the farming community, animal welfare groups, the veterinary profession, animal behaviour and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. It also includes the chairman of the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee and an independent chairman. Extensive consultation takes place with industry and other interested groups in the development of codes. Departure from a code of conduct is, in itself, not an offence under the Act. Such departure may, however, assist in determining whether, for example, the suffering of an animal was unreasonable or unnecessary, and in that way may assist in securing a conviction for an offence under the Act. All Codes produced by the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee take account of 5 basic requirements:
Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
Provision of appropriate comfort and shelter
Prevention, or rapid diagnosis and treatment of injury, disease or infestation with parasites
Freedom from distress
Ability to display normal patterns of behaviour.
Agency: MAF
B. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Care of Animals in Boarding Establishments.
This Code of Conduct was endorsed as a national code at the AWAC committee meeting held on 12 August 1993. This has been prepared for those who own or manage Animal Boarding Establishments. Available Online: Website
C. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Animals at Saleyards.
This Code was endorsed as a national code at the AWAC committee meeting held on 25 May 1995. This Code highlights the need for good stockmanship and should be considered in conjunction with the Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Animals Transported within New Zealand. Available Online: Website
D. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Slaughter at Licensed and Approved Premises
This Code was endorsed as a national code at the AWAC committee meeting held on 17 February 1994 This code covers the welfare of animals from the point of unloading from trucks at a slaughter premises to the time that they become permanently unconscious.
It applies to all animals, excluding birds, destined for meat or by-products which are slaughtered in licensed or approved premises.
This code addresses four main areas of concern related to the welfare of animals at slaughtering premises:
Physiological needs of the animals;
Design, construction and maintenance of pre-slaughter facilities;
E. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Animals Transported within New Zealand.
This Code was endorsed as a national code at a meeting of AWAC held on 17 May 1994. An amendment adding a new section, referring specifically to ostrich and emu (section 21), to the Code was added in 1996. This code is intended as a guide for people who are involved in transporting animals within New Zealand or within New Zealand’s territorial waters. The code emphasises the responsibilities of the owner of the animals (or the owner’s agent), drivers, attendants and transport officials. Available Online: Website
F. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Bobby Calves.
This Code was endorsed as a national code at the AWAC committee meeting held on 6 May 1993. It was revised and endorsed by the committee in July 1997.This code of conduct for the welfare of bobby calves covers all aspects of welfare from birth to slaughter which are unique to bobby calves. It has specifically been designed as a stand alone code. Agency: MAF Available Online: Website
G. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes.
This Code was endorsed as a national code at the AWAC committee meeting held on 6 May 1993. It was revised and endorsed by the committee in July 1997.This code of conduct for the welfare of bobby calves covers all aspects of welfare from birth to slaughter which are unique to bobby calves. It has specifically been designed as a "stand alone" code. This code was developed by the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC) in conjunction with AWAC. was endorsed as a national code at a meeting of AWAC held on 25 May 1995 on the recommendation of NAEAC. The purpose of this code is to ensure the humane use of animals for scientific purposes. Its aims are to:
Emphasise the responsibilities of both investigators and institutions using animals;
Ensure that the welfare of animals is always considered an essential factor;
Ensure that animal use is valid;
Minimise the number of animals used in projects and limit or avoid pain or distress; and
Promote the development and use of techniques which replace or refine animal experiments
H. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Dairy Cattle.
This Code was endorsed as a national code at the AWAC committee meeting held on 14 November 1991.This code is intended as a guide for all those involved in the husbandry of dairy cattle and encourages the adoption of the highest standards of husbandry. Agency: MAF Available Online: Website
I. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Deer During the Removal of Antlers.
This Code was endorsed as a national code at the AWAC committee meeting held on 5 May 1992.The Code has relevance to farmed deer in relation to the inhumane removal of antlers, possible damage inflicted by deer with hard antlers to other deer during handling or transport, and possible injury to antlers in velvet during transport or handling. Agency: MAF Available Online: Website
J. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Dogs.
This Code was endorsed as a national code at the AWAC committee meeting held on 28 November 1997. This code reflects current informed opinion, and it is hoped that it will promote better dog welfare, both by providing assistance for Inspectors under the Animals Protection Act and through education of dog owners. This code complements the legislation by outlining the minimum standards which are currently acceptable to the informed New Zealand public and makes recommendations to promote good dog welfare. Agency: MAF Available Online: Website
K. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Emergency Slaughter of Farm Livestock.
This Code was endorsed as a national code at the AWAC committee meeting held on 30 August 1996.This code is designed to outline methods of killing animals in emergencies which, although not conforming to those used in a commercial slaughter plant, will despatch an animal with minimum suffering and distress. It is intended to serve as a guide to current best known practices, particularly in the absence of veterinary assistance. Agency: MAF Available Online: Website
L. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Horses.
This Code was endorsed as a national code at the committee meeting held on 12 November 1992.Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Horses. This code includes guidelines for grazing, feeding, housing, transport and slaughter of horses. Agency: MAF Available Online: Website
M. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Ostrich and Emu.
This Code was endorsed as a national code at the AWAC meeting held on 28 November 1997. This code is intended as a guide for all people responsible for the welfare, husbandry, transport and slaughter of ostrich and emu that have been bred and reared in captivity. Agency: MAF Available Online: Website
N. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Sale of Companion Animals.
This Code was endorsed as a national code at the AWAC committee meeting held on 11 August 1994. This code includes information on legislation and guidelines for the management, care, sale and transport of pets including - birds, fish and large and small animals kept as pets. Agency: MAF Available Online: Website
O. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Sea Transport of Sheep from New Zealand.
This Code was endorsed as a national code at the AWAC committee meeting held on 8 May 1991.The purpose of this code is to optimise the quality of management of sea transport of sheep from New Zealand, establish and maintain acceptable welfare standards and reduce mortality associated with the assembly, shipping and discharge phases of the operation below 1%. Agency: MAF Contact: Sea Transport of Sheep from New Zealand
P. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Sheep.
This is a practical guide for those involved in sheep production, and it is intended to encourage the adoption of the highest standards of sheep husbandry. Agency: MAF
Q. The Animal Welfare Act (1999)
This provides for the issue of codes of welfare by the Minister on the recommendation of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and after a public consultation process. Codes of welfare are an integral part of the framework and philosophy of the Act. It is expected that they may be quite detailed as they will be used to promote appropriate behaviour, establish minimum standards and promote best practice in relation to animals owned or in a person’s charge.
Codes of welfare can contain details, including explanatory information that would not be appropriate in a primary piece of legislation. Codes have an important role in facilitating overseas market access and achieving success in those markets.
The benefits of codes include:
a manageable main body of legislation with the codes providing further detail and base lines for animal management and care;
flexibility in modifying and improving animal welfare standards in line with changing community expectations, scientific knowledge and technological change;
balanced representation of community expectations and views through community involvement in the development of codes; and
high educational value through an ability to use them to improve community awareness of animal needs.
Breach of the provisions in a code of welfare will not be an offence under the Animal Welfare Act. Rather, any prosecutions will be for failure to meet the obligations in the Act relating to the care of an animal or for ill-treatment of an animal. Failure to adhere to the minimum standards set out in a code will, however, be able to be used as evidence to support a prosecution under Parts 1 and 2 of the Act.
Compliance with a relevant code of welfare, where one exists, will be a defence where a person is charged with an offence under Part 1 or 2. Where a person is charged with an offence under Parts 1 or 2, they have the opportunity to argue and present evidence that their standard of care or conduct equalled or exceeded that specified in a relevant minimum standard in a code of welfare. Agency: MAF Available Online: Website
R. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Circus Animals and Information for Circus Operators.
This was approved as a national code at a meeting of AWAC held in December 1990.This revised version was endorsed as a deemed code for the purposes of the Animal Welfare Act 1999. The code provides the basis by which circus operators can be expected to act in providing for the welfare of the animals in their charge. This arises from heightened public concern for animal welfare and aims to provide animals with protection against abuse. Agency: MAF Available Online: Website
S. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Pigs.
This Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Pigs was endorsed as a national code at the committee meeting held on 11 August 1994. This code has been amended to ensure that the minimum standards have been clearly identified. This revised version was endorsed as a deemed code for the purposes of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 at the committee meeting held on 17 November 1999. Agency: MAF Available Online: Website
T. Code of Recommendations for the Welfare of Exhibit Animals and Information for Animal Exhibit Operators.
This code was endorsed as a national code at the committee meeting held on 17 February 1994. Agency: MAF Available Online: Website
U. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Layer Hens.
This code provides guidelines for the welfare of layer hens. Agency: MAF Available Online: Website
V. Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Broiler Chickens.
This code provides guidelines for the welfare of broiler chickens. Agency: MAF
