# Updates on efforts to strengthen the animal health and welfare ecosystem

- **Source:** Ministry of National Development
- **Published:** 2026-03-04T04:00:00.000Z
- **Author:** Ministry of National Development
- **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/updates-on-efforts-to-strengthen-the-animal-health-and-welfare-ecosystem
- **Topics:** Market Updates

## Featured rationale

Updated animal-welfare, housing and professional standards may raise compliance expectations for pet-related businesses and animal facilities, potentially influencing their premises and operating requirements.

## AI summary

AVS plans public consultation on draft Animals and Birds Act amendments later this year and is refining legislation to establish a Veterinary Council.

## Original article

The ongoing review of the Animals and Birds Act 1965 (the Act) by the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), a cluster of the National Parks Board (NParks), is part of efforts to strengthen safeguards on public health and safety, as well as animal health and welfare.

Background

The Act covers legislation pertaining to the following areas: 
• The prevention of the introduction and spread of diseases among animals, birds, and fish in Singapore. 
• Measures pertaining to the welfare of and the prevention of cruelty to animals, birds, and fish in Singapore. 
• The control of movement of animals, birds, and fish. 
It was last amended in 2014 via a Private Member’s Bill, as part of a review by the Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee (AWLRC).

Continued collaborative approach in the review of the Act

AVS is taking a collaborative approach for this review. Since 2022, we have engaged key stakeholders on the areas of review for animal disease prevention and control, including the regulatory framework for veterinary health products. Through a series of focus group discussions with various animal sector stakeholders, such as veterinarians, food animal farms, non-food animal farms, pet-related businesses, pharmaceutical companies, pet sector licensees, animal groups and relevant agencies, we have gathered a wide range of suggestions and valuable feedback which we are studying in the review of the Act. AVS aims to start public consultation on the draft amendments later this year.

AVS will continue to work closely with our stakeholders to raise standards by promoting greater awareness on best practices for animal welfare, and advocate responsible pet ownership amongst the community.

Review of Codes of Animal Welfare

The Codes of Animal Welfare (COAW) for the pet industry and pet owners were drafted by the Multi-stakeholder Collaboration Committee (MSCC) and issued by then-Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) in 2016 and 2017, respectively. The Codes specify minimum standards for animal housing, management, and care, to safeguard the health and welfare of pets. For example, the COAW states that pet owners should secure their doors and gates to prevent their pet from escaping, and provide pets with balanced and nutritious diet, as well as regular exercise and interaction.

AVS is reviewing the COAW to ensure that the standards align with global practices and remain relevant to Singapore’s context. The Codes will also be reformatted to facilitate easier comprehension. The review of the COAW for pet groomers will update minimum standards and best practices, and a new chapter for dog trainers is expected to be completed by this year.

Establishing a Veterinary Council

AVS has recently completed the public consultation on the draft Veterinary Practice Bill, which was developed following a comprehensive review and extensive stakeholder engagement. The Bill proposes the establishment of a Veterinary Council to serve as a professional regulatory body and uplift standards for veterinary professionals. The public consultation was held from 31 October 2025 to 28 November 2025, and AVS received valuable feedback from over 100 respondents, including veterinary professionals and members of the public.

The summary of findings from the public consultation is as follows:
• Broad Support for a Veterinary Council: Many agreed on the need for a professional regulatory body, with suggestions for diverse representation, including specialists. 
• Registration and accreditation: Respondents highlighted the importance of clear criteria for specialist registration and recognition of international accreditation bodies.
• Clearer scope of veterinary practice: There was strong support for prohibiting non-qualified individuals from practising veterinary medicine, while allowing veterinary nurses and students to perform certain tasks under supervision.
• Robust disciplinary framework: The new investigation and disciplinary process was welcomed, with calls for safeguards against conflicts of interest.
• Maintaining access to veterinary services: Concerns were raised about the transparency and pricing of veterinary services. As pricing and fees are not within the scope of the Bill, AVS will consider separate measures to address these concerns.

AVS is carefully reviewing the feedback to refine the Bill, which will be introduced in Parliament for debate before being officially gazetted as the Veterinary Practice Act. There will be a transition period for existing AVS-licensed veterinarians to move to the new registration framework, and more details will be shared closer to implementation.

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 加强动物健康与福利生态体系的相关进展

动物与兽医服务署（Animal & Veterinary Service，AVS）——国家公园局（NParks）属下的一个集群——正持续检讨《1965年动物与鸟类法令》（the Act），此举是加强公共卫生与安全以及动物健康与福利保障的一部分。

背景

该法令涵盖以下领域的立法：
• 防止疾病在新加坡的动物、鸟类与鱼类中传入与传播。
• 有关新加坡动物、鸟类与鱼类福利及防止虐待的措施。
• 对动物、鸟类与鱼类流动的管制。
该法令最近一次修订是在2014年，通过议员私人法案进行，作为动物福利立法检讨委员会（AWLRC）检讨工作的一部分。

法令检讨持续采取协作方式

AVS在此次检讨中采取协作方式。自2022年以来，我们已就动物疾病预防与控制的检讨领域（包括兽医健康产品的监管框架）与主要持份者进行接触。通过与兽医、食用动物农场、非食用动物农场、宠物相关企业、制药公司、宠物行业持牌人、动物团体及相关机构等各类动物领域持份者开展一系列焦点小组讨论，我们收集了广泛建议与宝贵反馈，并正纳入法令检讨研究。AVS旨在于今年较晚时候就修正草案展开公众咨询。

AVS将继续与持份者紧密合作，通过提升对动物福利最佳实践的认识来提高标准，并在社区中倡导负责任的宠物饲养。

《动物福利守则》检讨

宠物行业与宠物主人《动物福利守则》（Codes of Animal Welfare，COAW）由多方持份者协作委员会（MSCC）起草，并由当时的农粮与兽医局（AVA）分别于2016年与2017年发布。守则规定了动物饲养、管理与照护的最低标准，以保障宠物的健康与福利。例如，守则指出宠物主人应关好门与闸门，防止宠物逃出，并为宠物提供均衡营养的饮食，以及定期运动与互动。

AVS正检讨《动物福利守则》，以确保标准与国际做法接轨，并继续切合新加坡的国情。守则也将重新编排格式，以便更易理解。针对宠物美容师的《动物福利守则》检讨将更新最低标准与最佳实践，而狗只训练师的新章节预计于今年完成。

设立兽医理事会

AVS近日已完成《兽医执业法案》草案的公众咨询。该草案是在全面检讨与广泛持份者参与后制定的。法案建议设立兽医理事会，作为专业监管机构，以提升兽医专业人员的标准。公众咨询于2025年10月31日至2025年11月28日举行，AVS收到逾100名受访者的宝贵反馈，包括兽医专业人员与公众人士。

公众咨询的主要发现摘要如下：
• 普遍支持设立兽医理事会：许多人认同有必要设立专业监管机构，并建议包括专科人员在内的多元代表。
• 注册与认证：受访者强调专科注册需有清晰标准，以及认可国际认证机构的重要性。
• 更清晰的兽医执业范围：强烈支持禁止非合格人士从事兽医医疗，同时允许兽医护士与学生在监督下执行某些工作。
• 健全的纪律框架：新的调查与纪律程序受到欢迎，并有人呼吁设立防止利益冲突的保障措施。
• 维持兽医服务的可及性：有人对兽医服务的透明度与定价表示关切。由于定价与收费不在法案范围内，AVS将考虑另行采取措施处理这些关切。

AVS正仔细审阅反馈以完善法案，该法案将提交国会辩论，其后正式宪报为《兽医执业法令》。现有获AVS发牌的兽医将有过渡期以转入新的注册框架，更多详情将在接近实施时公布。