Livestock Management Legislation and Regulations

There are several pieces of legislation that govern the management of livestock. Each of the following pieces of legislation contains important regulations and guidelines about the management of livestock and their welfare in Victoria.

Legislation

The Livestock Management Act (2010) was gazetted in January 2010. The act provides the legislative framework for integrating, in a consistent manner, nationally agreed Standards relating to aspects of livestock management and for demonstrating these standards are met.

You must also be aware of these other important Acts relevant to managing livestock:

Standards and guidelines

Nationally consistent standards and guidelines for the welfare of livestock are being developed, cooperatively by government and livestock industries, under the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS). In Victoria, these standards are being incorporated as regulations under the Livestock Management Act 2010 making them mandatory and enforceable.

Read about the standards and guidelines for the welfare of livestock

You can find further information on these other standards and guidelines:

Land Transport Standards

Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines - Land Transport of Livestock

Land Transport Standards Information Notes

Pig welfare Standards and Guidelines

Systematic Risk Assessments

The LMA requires all livestock operators to comply with prescribed livestock management standards applicable to their particular livestock operation. The Act also requires livestock operators to conduct a systematic risk assessment of the prescribed livestock management standards within six months of these Standards being adopted into regulations.

Examples of Risk Assessments

Approved Compliance Arrangements

The LMA minimises regulatory burden by providing a co-regulatory mechanism to recognise existing government and industry compliance arrangements (e.g. quality assurance (QA) programs) that operate to achieve high standards for livestock management; and that demonstrate compliance and monitoring of the prescribed standards.

Find the:

Approved compliance arrangement guidelines
Application for approved compliance arrangement
Land Transport Standards checklist for approved compliance arrangements
Pig Welfare Standards checklist for approved compliance arrangements