Victorian codes of practice for animal welfare

The codes of practice listed on this page are made under either the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTA) or the Domestic Animals Act 1994 (DAA).

Codes of practice set out recommended minimum standards and practices for the keeping of a wide range of species and animal related activities. The requirements of all Domestic Animals Act codes are mandatory. Most POCTA codes are advisory only unless made mandatory through recognition in legislation. Compliance with the provisions of POCTA codes can provide a defense to a prosecution under this Act.

Mandatory codes or standards are marked with an asterix*.

The POCTA livestock codes are gradually being replaced by nationally developed Standards and Guidelines which are being adopted in Victoria under the Livestock Management Act 2010.

Read more about this Act and regulated standards.

What's new?

All POCTA livestock transport codes were revoked on 11 April 2013 following the adoption of the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines - Land Transport of Livestock under the Livestock Management Regulations 2011.

Amphibians

Code of practice for the wefare of amphibians in captivity

Birds

Code of practice for the housing of caged birds

Cats

Code of practice for the private keeping of cats

Cattle

Code of accepted farming practice for the welfare of cattle

Deer

Code of accepted farming practice for the welfare of deer

Dogs

Standard for restricted breed dogs in Victoria*

Code of practice for the debarking of dogs*

Code of practice for the operation of dog training establishments*

Code of practice for the keeping of racing greyhounds*

Code of practice for the private keeping of dogs

Dogs and cats

Code of practice for the operation of boarding establishments*

Code of practice for the operation of breeding and rearing businesses (Revision 1)*

Code of practice for the management of dogs and cats in shelters and pounds*

Emus

Code of practice for the husbandry of captive emus (Revision 1)

Electronic collars

The code of practice for the training of dogs and cats to wear electronic collars*

Exhibition of animals

Code of practice for the public display and exhibition of animals

Film animals

Code of practice for the welfare of film animals

Goats

Code of practice for the welfare of goats

Heritable defects

Code of practice for the responsible breeding of animals with heritable defects that cause disease* (mandatory for prescribed diseases)

Horses

Code of practice for the welfare of horses (Revision 1)

Code of practice for the welfare of horses competing at bush race meetings (Revision 1)

Code of practice for the welfare of horses at horse hire establishments

Hunting

Code of practice for the welfare of animals in hunting (revision 1)

Code of practice for the welfare of animals on private game reserves licensed to hunt game birds

Pet Shops

Code of practice for the operation of pet shops*

Pigs

Pig welfare standards and guidelines*

Poultry

Code of accepted farming practice for the welfare of poultry

Rabbits

Code of practice for the intensive husbandry of rabbits

Reptiles

Code of practice for the welfare of animals: private keeping of reptiles

Saleyards

Code of practice for the welfare of animals at saleyards 

Scientific procedures

Code of practice for the use of animals from municipal pounds in scientific procedures*

Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes*

Code of practice for the housing and care of laboratory mice, rats, guinea pigs and rabbits*

Sheep

Code of accepted farming practice for the welfare of sheep (revision 2)

Tethering animals

Code of practice for the tethering of animals

Traps

The code of practice for the use of small steel-jawed traps has been replaced by regulations related to small leghold trapping in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2008. For more information on trapping, please also refer to Humane Vertebrate Pest Control.

Transportation

Land transport standards*

Animal welfare guidance document for the transport of livestock across Bass Strait (PDF - 381.1 KB)

Wildlife

Code of practice for the welfare of wildlife during rehabilitation