Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines

Since the 1980s, the welfare of livestock in Australia has been supported by a series of Model Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Animals (MCOP).

A review of the MCOP in 2005 recommended that the MCOPs be converted into Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines. Under the previous Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS), Animal Health Australia (AHA) was commissioned to facilitate the development of these welfare standards and guidelines for livestock.

The Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines aim to harmonise and streamline livestock welfare legislation in Australia, ensuring that it results in improved welfare outcomes and is practical for industry.

National and state frameworks of welfare are informed by Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines. These underpin access to domestic and overseas markets and reinforce Australia’s commitment to advancing meaningful and effective animal welfare outcomes.

This website provides a progress update, background, consultative process and a submissions page on all previous and current standards and guidelines development.

Page reviewed: December 2020