Back to Main NEW STANDARDS FOR HANDLING LIVESTOCK

• Published: 2009-12-17 11:12:40

  Thursday, 10 December 2009

  New laws introduced this month will provide greater certainty relating to animal welfare, biosecurity and traceability standards for Victoria’s livestock industry.

  Introducing the Livestock Management Act into Parliament this week, Agriculture Minister Joe Helper said Victoria was moving to create uniform welfare standards that everyone must meet.

  “The Brumby Labor Government recognises that market, customer and community expectations are changing and there is a need to develop nationally consistent standards for handling livestock,” Mr Helper said.

  “We want to see greater clarity of owners’ responsibilities, which will then minimise the regulatory and cost burdens for industry.

  “The new legislation will also assist in maintaining productivity and market access for livestock businesses.”

  Mr Helper said the Act would be relevant to anyone owning, managing or working with livestock, and included a mechanism where existing industry quality assurance programs would be able to meet the new standards.

  “The Act recognises that many industries throughout the state have invested considerably in quality-assurance programs that are both effective and efficient,” he said.

  “Operators will have a choice in how they demonstrate their compliance. Those who don’t participate in an approved program will still be able to demonstrate that they meet the standards through inspection and auditing by the Department of Primary Industries.”

  The move will reflect national standards in Victorian legislation and is a response to several national regulatory reviews in the primary industries sector.

  Mr Helper said there had been extensive consultation with industry and this would continue as the new standards were developed.

  The first set of national standards, relating to the land transport of animals, is expected to commence early next year.

  for further article from the DPI of VIC. click here
   

  

  Supplied by Department Of Primary Industries - VIC