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Wildlife and Small Institutions Animal Ethics Committee

Public access Wildlife and Small Institutions (WSI) Animal Ethics Committee (AEC)

Agriculture Victoria established the Wildlife and Small Institutions Animal Ethics Committee (WSIAEC) to provide for small institutions or organisations unable to maintain a viable AEC.

There are two streams of access to the WSIAEC dependent on the type of animal use that is proposed. Organisations or individuals wishing to access the services of the WSIAEC must apply to Agriculture Victoria for such access. The WSIAEC will only approve projects and activities undertaken in the state of Victoria.

Unrestricted access

The Wildlife and Small Institutions Animal Ethics Committee (WSIAEC) is an Animal Ethics Committee for the purposes of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 (POCTA Act)and provides services to scientific procedures licence holders using animals for research or teaching, and specified animals breeding licence holders.

Applicants wishing to nominate the WSIAEC to perform AEC functions for their licence must obtain approval to access the committee before nominating the WSIAEC in a licence application.

Restricted access

Additionally, the WSIAEC provides services to individuals undertaking collection, taking, banding and marking of wildlife for research purposes. These applicants are exempt from licensing under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, but must hold a research permit issued by the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) in accordance with section 28A of the Wildlife Act 1975.

Permit applicants are required to seek approval from an AEC for proposed research activities prior to submitting an application to DELWP.

Learn more information on exempt types of animal use.

WSIAEC project application forms and applicant guide

WSIAEC report forms

WSIAEC procedures

WSIAEC other information

WSIAEC meeting dates (closing date for agenda items is two weeks prior to meeting date)

2018

February 14
March 14
May 9
June 27
August 8
September 12
December 5

2019

30 January 2019
13 March 2019
8 May 2019
12 June 2019
24 July 2019
11 September 2019
16 October 2019
11 December 2019

For more information on the WSIAEC contact

Agriculture Victoria
Executive Officer
Wildlife and Small Institutions Animal Ethics Committee
475 Mickleham Road Attwood Victoria 3049

Phone: 03 8377 4575

Email: wsi.aec@ecodev.vic.gov.au

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