Proposal to regulate the sale and use of specified leg hold traps - Review of submissions

In April 2007 MAF released a discussion paper entitled Proposal to regulate the sale and use of specified leg hold traps (discussion paper no: 2007/02) and invited submissions on the proposal. The paper presented a proposal to regulate leg hold traps under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

MAF received 33 submissions from a range of interests, including local authorities, industry associations, non-governmental organisations, trap suppliers, individuals such as trappers, fur hunters, and animal welfare inspectors, and a government department.

Submitters raised important issues that MAF will consider further before making its recommendations to the Minister of Agriculture. Some submitters may be contacted for further information on their submission to ensure that any regulation introduced is workable and as cost-efficient as possible.

We anticipate that a regulation for leg hold traps will be in place by the end of 2007. Existing local bylaws for leg hold traps expire on 31 December 2007.

Page last updated: 30 April 2008