Animal Welfare Amendment Regulations 2008
I, the Governor in and over the State of Tasmania and its Dependencies in the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Executive Council, make the following regulations under the Animal Welfare Act 1993 .11 July 2008
PETER G. UNDERWOOD
Governor
By His Excellency’s Command,
D. E. LLEWELLYN
Minister for Primary Industries and Water
1Short titleThese regulations may be cited as the Animal Welfare Amendment Regulations 2008 . 2CommencementThese regulations take effect on the day on which their making is notified in the Gazette. 3Principal RegulationsIn these regulations, the Animal Welfare Regulations 1993 are referred to as the Principal Regulations. 4Regulation 3 amended (Interpretation) Regulation 3 of the Principal Regulations is amended as follows: (a) by omitting the definition of commission ; (b) by inserting the following definitions after the definition of domestic fowl : drinker means – (a) a cup that – (i) is attached to a water line; and (ii) has a lever or other device in it; and (iii) is filled with water if pressure is applied to the lever or device; or (b) a nipple that is attached to a water line; laying fowl means a female domestic fowl of 18 or more weeks; 5Regulation 6 substituted Regulation 6 of the Principal Regulations is rescinded and the following regulation is substituted: 6Floor area requirements for cages used to keep laying fowls A person must not keep a laying fowl in a cage unless the floor area of the cage is at least – (a) 1 000 square centimetres if one fowl is in the cage; or (b) 675 square centimetres for each fowl, if 2 fowls are in the cage; or (c) 550 square centimetres for each fowl, including the floor area under the baffle, if – (i) 3 or more fowls are in the cage; and (ii) the average weight of the fowls is not more than 2.4 kilograms; or (d) 600 square centimetres for each fowl, if – (i) 3 or more fowls are in the cage; and (ii) the average weight of the fowls is 2.4 kilograms or more. Penalty: Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.
6Regulation 6A insertedAfter regulation 6 of the Principal Regulations , the following regulation is inserted: 6AFurther requirements for cages used to keep laying fowls (1) A person must not keep a laying fowl in a cage unless the floor of the cage provides support for each forward pointing toe of each fowl kept in the cage.Penalty: Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.
(2) If 2 or more cages are arranged in vertical tiers, a person must not keep a laying fowl in any of those cages unless – (a) the fowl – (i) is visible to an extent that allows a person inspecting the fowl to make a general assessment about the fowl’s health and wellbeing; and (ii) can easily be removed from the cage; and (b) if another fowl is kept in a cage on a higher tier of the arrangement, the fowl is protected from excreta from the fowl in the cage on the higher tier. Penalty: Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.
(3) A person must not keep a laying fowl in a cage unless – (a) the person ensures that the fowl can reasonably access – (i) a food trough; and (ii) either a water trough or 2 or more drinkers; and (b) the length of the food trough allows a space of at least 10 centimetres for each fowl kept in the cage; and (c) if a water trough is used, the length of the water trough allows a space of at least 10 centimetres for each fowl kept in the cage. Penalty: Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.
(4) A person must not keep a laying fowl in a cage unless – (a) the height of the cage is – (i) more than the height of the fowl; and (ii) at least 40 centimetres for not less than 65% of the floor area of the cage; and (iii) not less than 35 centimetres at any point; and (b) the width of the door of the cage is – (i) the same as the width of the cage; or (ii) if the width of the cage is more than 50 centimetres, not less than 50 centimetres; and (c) the height of the door of the cage is not less than the height of the cage less – (i) the height of the food trough; and (ii) the height of the baffle; and (iii) the height of any fixed horizontal framework from which the cage door is hinged. Penalty: Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.
Displayed and numbered in accordance with the Rules Publication Act 1953.
Notified in the Gazette on 16 July 2008
These regulations are administered in the Department of Primary Industries and Water.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the regulation) These regulations amend the