The Minister for Agriculture has announced new rules to protect the welfare of animals with the updated Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals (POCTA) Regulations now in effect.
The Minister, Jaclyn Symes said the new regulations followed extensive consultation that attracted more than 2,000 submissions.
“Animals play a huge part in Victorians’ everyday lives and play a crucial role in the state’s economy,” Ms Symes said.
“It is important that the POCTA regulations support Victoria’s primary animal welfare legislation to minimise harm to animals,” she said.
She said the new regulations replaced the existing 2008 POCTA Regulations which were due to expire.
Ms Symes said the improvements covered: animal transportation and tethering requirements; confinement of animals in vehicles on hot days; use of pain relief for mulesing of sheep; sale and use of appropriate fruit tree netting to protect wildlife; operational and administrative processes for rodeos; scientific procedure record-keeping and the sourcing of animals.
She said the Government would separately progress the review of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 and its commitment to modernise Victoria’s animal welfare laws.
“Whether they’re domestic or farmed, animals are important to so many Victorians – these updated regulations are a step forward in ensuring that our animals are being treated fairly and respectfully,” Ms Symes said.
