Have Your Say: NSW Draft Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulation 2025
25 Nov 2024The NSW Government is seeking feedback on draft changes to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulation 2025 (the Regulation).
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (the Act) is the primary legislation that sets the foundation for strategic and coordinated management of animal welfare in NSW. The Act is supported by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulation 2012 (POCTA Regulation).
Key amendments include:
- Revising the circumstances with which certain procedures can be carried out on animals such as declawing of cats, debarking of dogs and tail docking of cattle under 6 months of age.
- Prohibiting the use of glue traps for the purpose of catching animals but will still be allowed for use on insects.
- Improving the enforcement options by allowing the use of penalty notices for additional offences and increasing the existing penalty notice amounts for a range of offences.
- Implementing some requirements from the Poultry Standards and Guidelines to build upon existing layer fowl regulations.
More information on this consultation can be found at the NSW DPIRD website.
The AVA will be providing a submission and invite members to be involved.
To assist you please consider the following information:
Read the draft Regulation and Regulatory Impact Statement via the DPIRD website.
Relevant AVA Policies:
Relevant AVA Submissions:
Northern Territory Animal Protection Act 2018 2024 Review
South Australia Animal Welfare Bill 2024
Victorian Draft Animal Care and Protection Bill
Other resources:
AVA - Improving Animal Welfare - resources webpage
The 5 Domains of Animal Welfare
NT Animal Protection Act review
Submission to South Australia Animal Welfare Bill 2024
AVA submission to the Animal Care and Protection Bill and Regulations - Victoria
How to be involved:
You can be involved by contributing to the AVA submission to represent the views of the profession.
Please send your feedback to publicvetaffairs@ava.com.au by Monday 9 December 2024.
Or, by placing an individual written submission by the closing date of 19 December 2024 via email at pocta.reg@dpird.nsw.gov.au or mail to:
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulation 2025
Regulatory Policy & Economics - NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Level 3/66 Harrington St – Foreshore House
The Rocks – Sydney NSW 2000