Animal Welfare Act
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Animal Welfare Act is an law passed by government to protect the welfare of animals.
[edit] New Zealand
In New Zealand the Animal Welfare Act was passed in 1999. It supersedes the Animal Protection Act 1960 and gives a wider definition to what is classed as an animal.
[edit] United States
In the United States it was first adopted in 1966 as a result of mounting public concern about animal research, and amended in 1970, 1976, 1985, and 1990, is a federal law in the United States providing basic provisions for the handling, treatment, and transportation of some animals in certain situations: laboratory animals, zoos, circuses, puppy mills, animal transporters, and animal exhibitors. It does not include cold-blooded animals, mice, rats, birds, livestock or other farm animals, or horses (except horses used for research).
In 2002, Senator Jesse Helms introduced an amendment to the Farm Bill, excluding consideration of birds and mice from the Animal Welfare Act.
This act is enforced by a division of the United States Department of Agriculture known as the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
[edit] External links
- Biosecurity New Zealand - guide to the New Zealand Animal Welfare Act.
- Text of the Animal Welfare Act from the United States Department of Agriculture.
