Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulation 2025

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (the Act) is the primary legislation that sets the foundation for strategic and coordinated management of animal welfare in NSW. The Act is supported by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulation 2025 (the Regulation) which commenced on 1 February 2025.

The Regulation provides for critical animal welfare protection for animals in NSW including:

• Safeguarding animals during certain procedures such as declawing of cats, debarking of dogs, pinioning of birds' wings, and docking tails of cattle
• Prescribing animal trades and the standards, guidelines and codes relating to these trades, including dog and cat breeding, pet shops, commercial pig production and land transport of livestock
• Greater welfare requirements for layer poultry such as prescribing improved cage requirements for new installations
• Provisions relating to the enforcement of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (the Act) and the Regulation, including how Police are to exercise their powers and what evidence is considered to satisfy certain thresholds as set out in the Act
• Exemptions from provisions in the Act in certain limited circumstances. Without maintaining these exemptions, current activities may not be lawful
• Reporting requirements for approved charitable organisations.

The Regulation also defines the penalty notice amounts, without which penalty notices could not be issued by inspectors.

In addition to the commencement of the Regulation, the NSW Government is progressing work on implementing a new animal welfare framework in NSW.

How was the Regulation developed?

A draft of the Regulation, including its Regulatory Impact Statement, was released for public consultation from 22 November 2024 to 19 December 2024.

Feedback from submissions, the community, and stakeholders informed the development of the Regulation - as well as the NSW Government’s work to implement a new animal welfare framework in NSW.

Further consultation on broader animal welfare reform in NSW

There will be further opportunity for stakeholders to be consulted on broader animal welfare reform, including through the Government's commitment to review the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (POCTAA).

Please visit the DPIRD Animal Welfare Reform webpage for the latest updates.