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2. Codes of Practice
National standards and model codes of practice for animal welfare in the livestock industries have been developed over the past 25 years through government bodies in consultation with industry groups and animal welfare organisations.
National model codes of practice provide minimum standards and specify the duty of care to be given to animals. They are adopted throughout Australia, either directly by reference in legislation or indirectly in the development of State and Territory codes to meet specific regional needs. The codes are used as a resource for the education of animal carers and the development of training and awareness programs.
They also provide a basis for animal welfare standards within audited industry quality assurance programs and can be used in legal proceedings. Additionally, there are more locally-based codes relevant to companion animals, animal management and animal control.
There are periodic reviews of standards to include advances in animal welfare science, changing community expectations and evolving industry practices and to consider the implications for Australia of overseas developments. There are continuing efforts to promote awareness of the codes and to determine ways to ensure adoption of these minimum standards.
Animal Health Australia and its members have recently developed benchmarks for animal welfare within the framework of performance standards for the Australian animal health system.
The use of animals in research and teaching is determined by the Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (Scientific Code),which describes ethical guidelines and establishes institutional Animal Ethics Committees (AECs) to make the necessary ethical evaluations. The resulting process seeks to protect the welfare of animals and, at the same time, allow their continued use in biomedical, veterinary, agricultural and environmental research so that people and animals can benefit from advances in human and animal health and better management of the environment.
Research or teaching projects using animals are performed only when the value of the envisaged outcomes outweigh the possible effects on the welfare of the animal. AECs apply the principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (3Rs), to minimise the number of animals used, diminish impacts on animals and to achieve an acceptable balance.
The Scientific Codehas been developed through a consultative process involving government, welfare groups, researchers and teachers. The code is referred to in state and territory legislation. As a consequence, the use of animals in research and teaching must comply with the ethical requirements of the code and the legal requirements set out in statute law.