Sale and hire of electronic collars
An electronic collar is an animal collar that is designed to be capable of imparting an electric shock to an animal.
Legal requirements for sale and hire of collars
People selling, hiring, receiving or using electronic collars must comply with legal requirements under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2019.
Seller, hirer or supplier requirements
You must not sell, hire or supply:
- an electronic collar other than one manufactured for use on cats, dogs or the specified livestock species
- an electronic collar for use on a cat or a dog unless it meets approved design and technical specifications [insert link to relevant government gazette]
- an electronic collar manufactured for use on cats or dogs unless you have advised the purchaser, in writing, of the legal conditions for use
- An approved electronic collar system for cattle unless it is an approved electronic collar system and;
- for manufacturers, the purchaser/hirer/recipient must be provided with training in accordance with the training approved as specified in the electronic collar system approval.
- if not the manufacturer, you must advise the purchaser/hirer/recipient of the contact details of the manufacturer and that it is a requirement to undertake training provided by the manufacturer before the system is enabled.
- an electronic collar for sheep, goats, pigs, camels, alpacas and llamas or for cattle if not an approved electronic collar system unless written evidence of the use in an approved scientific procedures program is provided.
In addition, all sellers, hirers or suppliers must keep records as set out below.
Record keeping requirements
Dogs and cats
You must not sell, hire or supply an electronic collar for use on cats, dogs or livestock unless you keep a record of these details about the purchaser or hirer of the collar:
- full name and address
- street address — for cats and dogs this must be the address of the purchaser
—for livestock, this must be the street address of the property where the collar is to be used - contact telephone number or email address (if any)
- date of sale, hire or supply of the collar
- for electronic collars to be used on livestock, if they are to be used in Victoria, then written evidence must be provided, and recorded, that the animal on which the collar is to be used, and use of the collar, is part of an approved scientific procedures program conducted under a licence issued under Part 3 of the POCTA Act.
Cattle – approved electronic collar systems
You must not sell, hire or supply an approved electronic collar system for use on cattle unless, at the time of the sale, hire or supply, you keep a record of:
(a) the full name of the purchaser, hirer or recipient; and
(b) the street address of the property where the electronic collar system is to be used; and
(c) a contact telephone number or email address (if any) for the purchaser, hirer or recipient; and
(d) the date of sale, hire or supply of the electronic collar system; and
(e) if not the manufacturer, that you have advised the purchaser, hirer or recipient of the relevant conditions of use, as set out in regulation 28A in writing – information to assist sellers is available <link to farmer page>.
Livestock – research purposes
You must not sell, hire or supply an electronic collar for use on cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, camels, alpacas and llamas for research purposes unless you keep a record of these details about the purchaser or hirer of the collar:
- full name and address
- street address —for livestock, this must be the street address of the property where the collar is to be used
- contact telephone number or email address (if any)
- date of sale, hire or supply of the collar
- if they are to be used in Victoria, then written evidence must be provided, and recorded, that the animal on which the collar is to be used, and use of the collar, is part of an approved scientific procedures program conducted under a licence issued under Part 3 of the POCTA Act.
You must not provide false or misleading information about these details.
You must keep these records for 7 years after the sale, hire or supply of an electronic collar or approved electronic collar system.
The legal conditions for use are outlined in regulations 23 to 29A of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2019. Further information and printable factsheets for the use of electronic collars can be found at:
Anti-bark and remote training collars
Approved electronic collar systems for cattle
You can be fined if you do not comply with these requirements.
More information
Contact the Customer Service Centre on 136186, or visit the Animal Welfare section.