Updates on efforts to strengthen the animal health and welfare ecosystem
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.
AVS plans public consultation on draft Animals and Birds Act amendments later this year and is refining legislation to establish a Veterinary Council.
Body
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.