Legislation, codes and policy
Legislation to protect animal welfare comes under the auspices of State authorities. Although there are some differences between States in specific legislative requirements, in each case the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes ("the Code") is the basis for describing practices and procedures to protect the welfare of animals used for scientific purposes.
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) centrally coordinates the development of codes of practice and other policy material relating to animal welfare issues.
Victorian legislation and codes
Victorian Acts and Regulations relevant to animal welfare, including the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (and Regulations), the National Parks Act, the Wildlife Act and the Fisheries Act, may be found on the Victorian Law Today website.
The Department of Primary Industries website contains a comprehensive list of Victorian Codes of Practice for Animal Welfare. As well as complying with the Code, researchers and teaching staff MUST uphold the minimum standards in the Code of Practice for the Housing and Care of Laboratory Mice, Rats, Guinea Pigs and Rabbits, and the Code of Practice for the Use of Animals from Municipal Pounds in Scientific Procedures.
University codes and guidelines
The University Animal Welfare Committee publishes Animal Use and Welfare Guidelines on specific aspects of animal welfare relating to research and teaching, including advice on anaesthesia, euthanasia, and rodent surgery.
The University of Melbourne Code of Conduct for Research prescribes standards of responsible and ethical conduct expected of all persons (academic staff, students, technical and other support staff) engaged in research.