The State Government is seeking public feedback on the draft new regulations on animal welfare rules for transport of livestock and for handling of livestock at saleyards and depots, with a focus sheep and cattle.

In late 2018, the Animal Welfare Act 2002 was amended to allow regulation of Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines in WA for the first time. For too long WA has lagged behind the rest of the nation where national standards and guidelines for land transport of livestock and for saleyards and depots have already come into effect some time ago.

The aim of the public consultation is to obtain feedback on the implementation of the draft standards, not on the technical content which has already been accepted and adopted in other jurisdictions.

RSPCA WA supports the adoption of the standards which will be an improvement for animals and create more certainty about what is required for those in charge of animals.

More information is available from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

The consultation closes at 5pm on Friday February 21, 2020.

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