Summary Description
- Imposes a duty on the State to protect animals.
- TopicThe topic of the legislation or policy covered by the text
- AgricultureAnimal healthAnimal welfareRecognition of sentience
- SpeciesThe animal, or type of food production, covered by the text
- All animals
- JurisdictionCountry or geographical area where the text applies
- New Zealand
- Sub-jurisdictionCountry or state where the text applies
- N/A
- Type of ActWhether the act is a law, regulation, or policy, or another type of text
- Legislation
- StatusIndicates whether the act is in force or not
- In force
- Legal ValueWhether the text is binding or not
- Binding
- Date enactedDate the text was adopted
- 1999
- Date updatedDate when the entry was last updated by the CALF team
- June, 2023
- Official citation
- Animal Welfare Act 1999 (N.Z.)
Strengths & Weaknesses
- Strengths
- Covers all animals, including invertebrates ("animal" is defined as any mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, octopus, squid, crab, or crayfish (including freshwater crayfish) or any other species as declared by the Governor-General by Order in Council).
- Establishes a National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and a National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee.
- Requires the enactment of the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations
- , which outline species-specific anti-cruelty requirements such as marginally improved pig welfare, notably by prohibiting sow stalls for longer than seven days per reproductive cycle and by mandating anaesthesia to be used during piglet castration. New Regulations
- continue the prohibition on the export of cattle, sheep, deer and goats (livestock) for slaughter unless approved by the Director-General of MPI.
- Refers to 19 Codes of Welfare expand the basic obligations laid out in the Animal Welfare Act by setting minimum standards, as well as best practices.
- Provides penalties in cases of violations.
- Weaknesses
- Animals are still classified as property under the law.
- The Codes of Welfare are not legally binding and do not cover all farmed animals (i.e. broiler chickens).
- The Codes of Welfare undermine the purposes and principles of the Animal Welfare Act, by providing defences to conduct contrary to the Act.
- The 2018 Regulations allow some cruel practices such as the keeping of hens and sows in cages, mutilations of piglets, and the slaughter of animals without stunning.