AVA policy advisory council – comments invited and 2022 in review

Upcoming policies

Member comments invited

As an AVA member you have the opportunity to help shape AVA policies – these have far-reaching influence and underpin our advocacy work. 

• Control of feral horses and other Equidae (update)
• Welfare of animals in zoos, aquaria, sanctuaries, and animal parks (update)
• Sustainability: implications for animal production, companion animals and veterinary practice (new)
• Welfare of animals used in rodeos (update)
• Employment of new veterinary graduates (update)
• Use of animals for teaching in veterinary schools (update)
• Unpaid veterinary services performed for public good (new)
• Genetic defects in domestic animals (update)
• Thermocautery (firing) of horses and racing greyhounds (update)

We welcome all comments by AVA members. Please post your comments in the forum.

Comments close on 7 February 2023.

Remember you need to be logged in as a member to access the forums.

If you have any difficulties there, send comments directly to Melanie Latter: melanie.latter@ava.com.au

All comments will be forwarded to the respective working groups for consideration.

Thank you in advance for your participation.

Wrap up of AVA policies ratified in the past year 

At the Board’s December 2022 meeting, the following five policies were ratified:

• Cattle spaying (update)
• Use of whips on horses at competitive events (update)
• Surgical artificial insemination in dogs (new)
• Australian National Centres for Disease Control (Australian CDC) (new)
• Disbudding of goat kids (new)

The policies below were also ratified in the past 12-13 months:

Updated policies

• Climate change and animal health, welfare and production (ava.com.au) (update)
• Use of behaviour-modifying collars on dogs (ava.com.au) (update)
• Surgical sterilisation of dogs and cats (ava.com.au) (update)
• Management of cats in Australia (ava.com.au) (update)
• Commercial layer hen housing systems  (update)
• Live animal export  (update)
• Hendra Virus (updated to capture new Hendra variant)

New Policies

• Cytotoxic drug safety  (new)
• Use of punishment and negative reinforcement in dog training  (new)
• Brachycephalic dog breeding (new)
• Heat stress in the horse (new)
• Safeguarding and improving the mental health of the veterinary team (new)
• Medication of dogs and cats for air transport (ava.com.au) (new)

With sincere thanks to all the Policy Councillors and members who have contributed to this work – we couldn’t do it without you!