{"id":"tas:sr-2023-054","name":"Animal Welfare (Sheep) Regulations 2023","slug":"animal-welfare-sheep-regulations-2023","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"tas","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"54 of 2023","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":179327,"registerId":"tas-tas:sr-2023-054-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Part 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"Preliminary","content":"# Part 1 Preliminary","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title","content":"### 1 Short title\n\n> These regulations may be cited as the [Animal Welfare (Sheep) Regulations 2023](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/sr-2023-054) .","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"### 2 Commencement\n\n> These regulations take effect on the day on which their making is notified in the *Gazette*.","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Interpretation","content":"### 3 Interpretation\n\n> In these regulations –\n> \n> > ***Act*** means the [Animal Welfare Act 1993](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1993-063) ;\n> \n> > ***direct supervision*** – see [regulation 4](#GS4@EN) ;\n> \n> > ***humane destruction*** – see [regulation 5](#GS5@EN) ;\n> \n> > ***sheep*** means an animal of the genus *Ovis* including, but not limited to, the species *Ovis aries*.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Meaning of direct supervision","content":"### 4 Meaning of direct supervision\n\n> For these regulations, a person (the ***supervised person***) is acting under the direct supervision of another person if that other person –\n> \n> > > (a) is on the same premises as the supervised person while the supervised activity is being undertaken; and\n> > \n> > > (b) provides instructions and guidance to the supervised person in relation to the supervised activity; and\n> > \n> > > (c) oversees and evaluates the performance of the supervised activity by the supervised person including conducting regular personal progress checks on the performance of the activity; and\n> > \n> > > (d) is able to render assistance immediately to the supervised person, if required, at any time during which the supervised activity is being undertaken.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":"Meaning of humane destruction","content":"### 5 Meaning of humane destruction\n\n> In these regulations, a sheep is humanely destroyed if –\n> \n> > > (a) the means of death used is appropriate for the age and weight of the sheep being destroyed; and\n> > \n> > > (b) the sheep is rendered suddenly unconscious; and\n> > \n> > > (c) the death of the animal occurs while the sheep is unconscious.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Application of regulations","content":"### 6 Application of regulations\n\n> These regulations apply to all sheep within the State, whether the sheep are kept for commercial or non-commercial purposes.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"Part 2","sectionType":"part","heading":"General Sheep Requirements","content":"# Part 2 General Sheep Requirements","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"7","sectionType":"section","heading":"Handling of sheep","content":"### 7 Handling of sheep\n\n> > (1)  In this regulation –\n> > \n> > > ***emergency*** means a circumstance where animal welfare, or human safety, may be compromised;\n> > \n> > > ***lift***, a sheep, means to handle the sheep so that the majority of the weight of the sheep is not resting on the ground.\n> \n> > (2)  A person must handle a sheep in a manner that, as far as possible, minimises the risk of injury or death to the sheep.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.\n> \n> > (3)  A person handling a sheep must not take one or more of the following actions in respect of the sheep:\n> > \n> > > > (a) lift the sheep off the ground only by the head, ears, horns, neck, tail, wool or one leg;\n> > > \n> > > > (b) drag sheep that are not standing, unless –\n> > > > \n> > > > > > (i) it is an emergency; and\n> > > > > \n> > > > > > (ii) the dragging is to give the minimum distance possible to allow for the safe handling, lifting, treatment or humane destruction of the sheep.\n> \n> > (4)  [Subregulation (3)(a)](#GS7@Gs3@Hpa@EN) does not apply to the lifting of a sheep in an emergency.","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"8","sectionType":"section","heading":"Food and water","content":"### 8 Food and water\n\n> > (1)  A person who has the care or charge of a sheep must ensure that the sheep has access to adequate and appropriate feed and water at all times.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.\n> \n> > (2)  [Subregulation (1)](#GS8@Gs1@EN) does not apply to –\n> > \n> > > > (a) sheep that are being transported in accordance with the Act; or\n> > > \n> > > > (b) sheep that are being shorn, slaughtered or drenched, and restricting access to food or water is in line with reasonable management practices for that activity.","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"9","sectionType":"section","heading":"Inspection of sheep","content":"### 9 Inspection of sheep\n\n> A person who has the care or charge of a sheep must ensure that the sheep is inspected at intervals, and at a level appropriate, for –\n> \n> > > (a) if the sheep is kept for commercial purposes, the production system used in respect of the sheep; and\n> > \n> > > (b) the type of sheep being kept including, but not limited to, the age, pregnancy status and health status of the sheep; and\n> > \n> > > (c) the risks to the sheep, whether those risks are temporary or continuous.\n> \n> Penalty:  In the case of –\n> \n> > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > \n> > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"10","sectionType":"section","heading":"Shearing","content":"### 10 Shearing\n\n> A person who has the care or charge of a sheep must ensure that the wool of the sheep does not exceed twice the average annual growth for the breed of that sheep.\n> \n> Penalty:  In the case of –\n> \n> > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > \n> > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"11","sectionType":"section","heading":"Use of prodders","content":"### 11 Use of prodders\n\n> > (1)  In this regulation –\n> > \n> > > ***electric prodder*** means a handheld device that is used to deliver an electric shock.\n> \n> > (2)  A person must not use an electric prodder –\n> > \n> > > > (a) on the genital, anal or udder area of a sheep; or\n> > > \n> > > > (b) on the facial area of a sheep; or\n> > > \n> > > > (c) on a sheep that is less than 3 months old; or\n> > > \n> > > > (d) on a sheep that is unable to move away from the electric prodder at the time of its use; or\n> > > \n> > > > (e) in a manner that is –\n> > > > \n> > > > > > (i) designed to distress, injure or kill a sheep; or\n> > > > > \n> > > > > > (ii) otherwise unreasonable in the circumstances.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.\n> \n> > (3)  [Subregulation (2)(b)](#GS11@Gs2@Hpb@EN) and [(c)](#GS11@Gs2@Hpc@EN) do not apply to the use of an electric prodder on a sheep if –\n> > \n> > > > (a) the welfare of the sheep is at risk; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) the use of the electric prodder is the most reasonable method to ensure the safety and welfare of the sheep.","sortOrder":12},{"sectionNumber":"12","sectionType":"section","heading":"Use of dogs","content":"### 12 Use of dogs\n\n> > (1)  In this regulation –\n> > \n> > > ***effective control***, of a dog, means that the person is able to demonstrate that the dog is immediately responsive to the person’s commands at all times.\n> \n> > (2)  A person handling a sheep must not use a dog to assist in the handling of the sheep if the dog is not under the effective control of the person.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.","sortOrder":13},{"sectionNumber":"Part 3","sectionType":"part","heading":"Procedures and Treatment Performed on Sheep","content":"# Part 3 Procedures and Treatment Performed on Sheep","sortOrder":14},{"sectionNumber":"13","sectionType":"section","heading":"Interpretation of Part","content":"### 13 Interpretation of Part\n\n> In this Part –\n> \n> > ***castration***, of a sheep, includes any procedure performed on the sheep to temporarily, or permanently, sterilise the sheep;\n> \n> > ***mulesing***, in relation to a sheep, means the removal of skin from the breech, or tail, of the sheep using mulesing shears;\n> \n> > ***mulesing shears*** means a set of shears with sharp blades, that have rounded points, that are specifically designed for mulesing a sheep;\n> \n> > ***skin***, of a sheep, includes the wool follicles of the sheep but does not include sub-dermal tissue;\n> \n> > ***tail docking***, in respect of a sheep, means the removal of any part of the tail of the sheep other than wool.","sortOrder":15},{"sectionNumber":"14","sectionType":"section","heading":"General requirements for procedures and treatment","content":"### 14 General requirements for procedures and treatment\n\n> A person performing one or more of the following procedures on a sheep must ensure that the sheep does not feel unreasonable pain, distress, suffering or injury during, or after, the procedure:\n> \n> > > (a) artificial breeding;\n> > \n> > > (b) castration;\n> > \n> > > (c) mulesing;\n> > \n> > > (d) laparoscopic insemination;\n> > \n> > > (e) surgical embryo transfer;\n> > \n> > > (f) tail docking.\n> \n> Penalty:  In the case of –\n> \n> > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > \n> > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.","sortOrder":16},{"sectionNumber":"15","sectionType":"section","heading":"Medical treatment","content":"### 15 Medical treatment\n\n> A person who has the care or charge of a sheep must ensure that, as soon as is reasonably practicable after the person becomes aware that the sheep is sick, injured, diseased or suffering from severe distress, the sheep is –\n> \n> > > (a) provided with such medical treatment or other assistance as is reasonable and necessary in the circumstances; or\n> > \n> > > (b) humanely killed.\n> \n> Penalty:  In the case of –\n> \n> > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > \n> > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.","sortOrder":17},{"sectionNumber":"16","sectionType":"section","heading":"Dental work","content":"### 16 Dental work\n\n> > (1)  A person who has the care or charge of a sheep must ensure that the teeth of the sheep are not trimmed or ground.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.\n> \n> > (2)  A person must not trim or grind the teeth of a sheep.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.","sortOrder":18},{"sectionNumber":"17","sectionType":"section","heading":"Pizzle dropping","content":"### 17 Pizzle dropping\n\n> A person must not alter the anatomy of the prepuce of a sheep by incising the prepuce or the skin surrounding the prepuce of the sheep.\n> \n> Penalty:  In the case of –\n> \n> > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > \n> > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.","sortOrder":19},{"sectionNumber":"18","sectionType":"section","heading":"Tail docking and castration","content":"### 18 Tail docking and castration\n\n> > (1)  A person who is performing a tail docking on a sheep must –\n> > \n> > > > (a) if the sheep is more than 6 months old –\n> > > > \n> > > > > > (i) give the sheep appropriate pain relief for the procedure; and\n> > > > > \n> > > > > > (ii) take all reasonable steps to prevent haemorrhaging; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) leave at least one joint in the tail, after the procedure is performed, that is –\n> > > > \n> > > > > > (i) protruding from the profile of the rump; and\n> > > > > \n> > > > > > (ii) able to be manipulated by the sheep.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.\n> \n> > (2)  [Subregulation (1)(b)](#GS18@Gs1@Hpb@EN) does not apply to a person performing a tail docking of a sheep if a veterinary surgeon is satisfied that the removal of all of the joints in the tail of the sheep is in the best interests of the sheep.\n> \n> > (3)  A person who is performing a castration on a sheep, that is more than 6 months old, must –\n> > \n> > > > (a) give the sheep appropriate pain relief for the procedure; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) take all reasonable steps to prevent haemorrhaging.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.","sortOrder":20},{"sectionNumber":"19","sectionType":"section","heading":"Mulesing","content":"### 19 Mulesing\n\n> > (1)  A person performing mulesing of a sheep must –\n> > \n> > > > (a) have the relevant knowledge, experience and skills to safely perform mulesing of the sheep, or be under the direct supervision of a person who has such knowledge, experience and skills; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) use appropriate tools and methods to undertake mulesing of the sheep.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.\n> \n> > (2)  A person who is mulesing a sheep must –\n> > \n> > > > (a) not perform the procedure on a sheep that is less than 14 days old or more than 6 months old; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) give the sheep appropriate pain relief for the procedure; and\n> > > \n> > > > (c) only remove wool-bearing skin when mulesing the sheep.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.\n> \n> > (3)  A person must not mules a sheep that shows signs of a debilitating disease, weakness or ill-thrift.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.\n> \n> > (4)  The owner of a sheep must ensure that the sheep is not mulesed while the sheep shows signs of a debilitating disease, weakness or ill-thrift.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.","sortOrder":21},{"sectionNumber":"20","sectionType":"section","heading":"Artificial breeding","content":"### 20 Artificial breeding\n\n> > (1)  Subject to [subregulation (2)](#GS20@Gs2@EN) , a person who has the care or charge of a sheep must ensure that a procedure relating to artificially breeding the sheep is performed by –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a person with the relevant knowledge, experience and skills to safely perform the procedure; or\n> > > \n> > > > (b) a person acting under the direct supervision of a person with the relevant knowledge, experience and skills to safely perform the procedure.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.\n> \n> > (2)  A person who has the care or charge of a sheep must ensure that a surgical embryo transfer, or laparoscopic insemination, performed on the sheep is performed by –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a veterinary surgeon; or\n> > > \n> > > > (b) a person acting under the direct supervision of a veterinary surgeon.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.","sortOrder":22},{"sectionNumber":"Part 4","sectionType":"part","heading":"Accommodation","content":"# Part 4 Accommodation","sortOrder":23},{"sectionNumber":"21","sectionType":"section","heading":"Construction of facilities for sheep","content":"### 21 Construction of facilities for sheep\n\n> > (1)  In this regulation –\n> > \n> > > ***construction***, of a thing, includes, but is not limited to, the design, layout, installation, assembly and materials of the thing;\n> > \n> > > ***facilities*** includes, but is not limited to, fences, yards, sheds, raceways, troughs, ramps, cradles and races, whether temporary or permanent.\n> \n> > (2)  A person who has the care or charge of a sheep must ensure that the facilities used in respect of the sheep are constructed, and operated, in a manner that minimises, as far as possible, the risk of injury to, illness of or death of, the sheep.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.","sortOrder":24},{"sectionNumber":"22","sectionType":"section","heading":"Adverse weather conditions","content":"### 22 Adverse weather conditions\n\n> > (1)  In this regulation –\n> > \n> > > ***adverse conditions*** includes, but is not limited to, extremes of weather, drought, fires, floods, disease and predation;\n> > \n> > > ***extremes of weather*** includes, but is not limited to, changes in temperature and climatic conditions that, individually or in combination, are likely to predispose sheep to heat stress or cold stress.\n> \n> > (2)  A person who has the care or charge of a sheep must ensure that, as far as is reasonable, the sheep is housed in accommodation that is constructed and maintained so as to provide protection from adverse conditions and injuries.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.","sortOrder":25},{"sectionNumber":"23","sectionType":"section","heading":"Tethering of sheep","content":"### 23 Tethering of sheep\n\n> A person who has the care or charge of a sheep that is tethered must ensure that the sheep is provided with adequate exercise, that is appropriate for the sheep, at least once each day.\n> \n> Penalty:  In the case of –\n> \n> > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > \n> > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.","sortOrder":26},{"sectionNumber":"Part 5","sectionType":"part","heading":"Miscellaneous","content":"# Part 5 Miscellaneous","sortOrder":27},{"sectionNumber":"24","sectionType":"section","heading":"Intensive production systems","content":"### 24 Intensive production systems\n\n> > (1)  In this regulation –\n> > \n> > > ***intensive production system*** means a production system where sheep –\n> > > \n> > > > > (a) are confined for a period of 4 weeks or longer for the purposes of wool, meat or milk production; and\n> > > > \n> > > > > (b) while so confined, are dependent on the daily supply of feed or water by human or mechanical means;\n> > \n> > > ***lie down***, in relation to sheep, means that the sheep is able to rest on its sternum without restriction or contact with another sheep or thing.\n> \n> > (2)  A person who has the care or charge of a sheep that is part of an intensive production system must ensure that feed and water is available daily to the sheep in a quantity that is sufficient for the sheep.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.\n> \n> > (3)  A person who has the care or charge of a sheep that is part of an intensive production system must –\n> > \n> > > > (a) ensure that the sheep is inspected at least once each day while it is part of the system; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) take such actions, that are reasonable in the circumstances, in respect of a sheep if an inspection of the sheep shows that the sheep is in distress or is not adapting to the system as intended.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.\n> \n> > (4)  A person who has the care or charge of a sheep that is part of an intensive production system must ensure that –\n> > \n> > > > (a) urine and faeces do not accumulate in a manner that affects the health or welfare of the sheep that are part of the intensive production system; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) there is effective and suitable ventilation in any indoor space used to house sheep as part of the intensive production system; and\n> > > \n> > > > (c) at all times, there is sufficient space in each space, used as part of the intensive production system, to allow all sheep in that space to lie down at the same time.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.","sortOrder":28},{"sectionNumber":"25","sectionType":"section","heading":"Use of single pens for sheep","content":"### 25 Use of single pens for sheep\n\n> > (1)  A person who has the care or charge of a sheep must not permanently house the sheep in a pen that does not contain other sheep.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.\n> \n> > (2)  [Subregulation (1)](#GS25@Gs1@EN) does not apply to a sheep that is permanently housed in a pen without other sheep in accordance with a specific direction, by a veterinary surgeon, in respect of the sheep.\n> \n> > (3)  A person must not house a sheep in a pen, or other confined place, that does not contain other sheep for longer than is reasonable –\n> > \n> > > > (a) to comply with a specific direction, by a veterinary surgeon, in respect of the sheep; or\n> > > \n> > > > (b) to perform the action which has required the sheep to be housed in the pen or confined place.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.","sortOrder":29},{"sectionNumber":"26","sectionType":"section","heading":"Humane destruction of sheep","content":"### 26 Humane destruction of sheep\n\n> > (1)  A person who has the care or charge of a sheep must not cause, or allow, the sheep to be destroyed unless the destruction is carried out humanely by –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a veterinary surgeon; or\n> > > \n> > > > (b) a person with practical training and experience in sheep husbandry and the humane destruction of sheep; or\n> > > \n> > > > (c) a person who is acting under the direct supervision of a person referred to in [paragraph (a)](#GS26@Gs1@Hpa@EN) or [(b)](#GS26@Gs1@Hpb@EN) .\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.\n> \n> > (2)  It is a defence in proceedings for an offence under [subregulation (1)](#GS26@Gs1@EN) in respect of a sheep if the defendant establishes that –\n> > \n> > > > (a) the sheep was humanely destroyed; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) it was not possible to find a person referred to in either [subregulation (1)(a)](#GS26@Gs1@Hpa@EN) or [(b)](#GS26@Gs1@Hpb@EN) within a reasonable period; and\n> > > \n> > > > (c) the delay in waiting for a person referred to in [subregulation (1)(a)](#GS26@Gs1@Hpa@EN) or [(b)](#GS26@Gs1@Hpb@EN) would have caused undue suffering to the sheep.\n> \n> > (3)  A person who has taken an action to destroy a sheep must take all reasonable steps to confirm that the sheep is dead.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.\n> \n> > (4)  A person must not kill a sheep by a blow to the forehead if –\n> > \n> > > > (a) the sheep weighs 10 kilograms or more; or\n> > > \n> > > > (b) there is a firearm, captive bolt or lethal injection available to humanely destroy the sheep.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.\n> \n> > (5)  A person must not kill a sheep by cutting one or more of the major blood vessels in the sheep if there is a firearm, captive bolt or lethal injection available to humanely destroy the sheep.\n> > \n> > Penalty:  In the case of –\n> > \n> > > > (a) a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 100 penalty units; and\n> > > \n> > > > (b) an individual, a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units.","sortOrder":30},{"sectionNumber":"27","sectionType":"section","heading":"Infringement notices","content":"### 27 Infringement notices\n\n> For the purposes of the Act, the applicable penalty for an infringement notice issued in respect of an offence specified in column 1 of the table in [Schedule 1](#JS1@EN) is –\n> \n> > > (a) in the case of an infringement notice issued to an individual, the penalty specified in column 2 of that table for the offence; and\n> > \n> > > (b) in the case of an infringement notice issued to a body corporate, the penalty specified in column 3 of that table for the offence.","sortOrder":31},{"sectionNumber":"SCHEDULE 1 - Infringement noti","sectionType":"part","heading":"SCHEDULE 1 - Infringement notices","content":"# SCHEDULE 1 - Infringement noti SCHEDULE 1 - Infringement notices\n\n[Regulation 27](#GS27@EN)\n\n| Item | Offence | Penalty – Individual (Penalty unit) | Penalty – Body corporate (Penalty unit) |\n| 1. | Regulation 7(2) | 2 | 10 |\n| 2. | Regulation 8(1) | 2 | 10 |\n| 3. | Regulation 9 | 2 | 10 |\n| 4. | Regulation 10 | 2 | 10 |\n| 5. | Regulation 11(2) | 2 | 10 |\n| 6. | Regulation 12(2) | 2 | 10 |\n| 7. | Regulation 14 | 2 | 10 |\n| 8. | Regulation 15 | 2 | 10 |\n| 9. | Regulation 16(1) | 2 | 10 |\n| 10. | Regulation 16(2) | 2 | 10 |\n| 11. | Regulation 17 | 2 | 10 |\n| 12. | Regulation 18(1) | 2 | 10 |\n| 13. | Regulation 18(3) | 2 | 10 |\n| 14. | Regulation 19(1) | 2 | 10 |\n| 15. | Regulation 19(2) | 2 | 10 |\n| 16. | Regulation 19(3) | 2 | 10 |\n| 17. | Regulation 19(4) | 2 | 10 |\n| 18. | Regulation 20(1) | 2 | 10 |\n| 19. | Regulation 20(2) | 2 | 10 |\n| 20. | Regulation 21(2) | 2 | 10 |\n| 21. | Regulation 22(2) | 2 | 10 |\n| 22. | Regulation 23 | 2 | 10 |\n| 23. | Regulation 24(2) | 2 | 10 |\n| 24. | Regulation 24(3) | 2 | 10 |\n| 25. | Regulation 24(4) | 2 | 10 |\n| 26. | Regulation 25(1) | 2 | 10 |\n| 27. | Regulation 25(3) | 2 | 10 |\n| 28. | Regulation 26(1) | 2 | 10 |\n| 29. | Regulation 26(3) | 2 | 10 |\n| 30. | Regulation 26(4) | 2 | 10 |\n| 31. | Regulation 26(5) | 2 | 10 |\n\nDisplayed and numbered in accordance with the *[Rules Publication Act 1953](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1953-050)*.\n\nNotified in the *Gazette* on 12 July 2023\n\nThese regulations are administered in the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania.","sortOrder":32}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":5,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Compared with a generic, principle‑based animal welfare framework, these regulations substantially extend and specify the State's control over sheep care. They (a) explicitly apply to all sheep including non‑commercial animals (reg 6), (b) convert broad duties into detailed operational rules on handling, procedures (with age limits and mandatory pain relief), housing and intensive systems (regs 7, 14, 18–20, 21–25), and (c) create specific enforcement mechanisms including differentiated maximum fines and an infringement schedule (reg 27 and Schedule 1). The net effect is a significant expansion of prescriptive obligations and compliance points — increasing requirements for training, veterinary involvement, recordable supervisory arrangements and infrastructure — relative to a high‑level Act that might otherwise rely on general welfare standards. This broadened, more prescriptive scope raises compliance costs for smallholders and commercial producers and increases administration and enforcement demands on regulators."},"complexity_factors":["Approximately 31 substantive regulations across 5 Parts (Preliminary, General requirements, Procedures, Accommodation, Miscellaneous).","Multiple defined terms in reg 3 and Part 3 (e.g. Act, direct supervision, humane destruction, castration, mulesing, mulesing shears, skin, tail docking, intensive production system, lie down).","Several cross‑references between regulations and subregulations (e.g. reg 4 referred to in reg 3, reg 26 defences referencing subreg 1(a)/(b)).","Mix of bright‑line rules (age cutoffs, specific banned acts) and open‑ended standards (\"as far as possible\", \"reasonable steps\", \"appropriate pain relief\"), increasing interpretive complexity.","Separate penalty structures for individuals and bodies corporate for most offences (maximum fines up to 50/100 penalty units) plus a schedule of lower infringement notice penalties (Schedule 1) creating dual enforcement tracks.","Conditional exceptions and defences (e.g. emergency exceptions in reg 7(4); justified use of electric prodder in reg 11(3); vet‑directed exceptions for tail docking in reg 18(2); emergency humane destruction defence reg 26(2)).","Operationally specific provisions that require qualification/supervision standards (direct supervision definition in reg 4) which embed procedural requirements across multiple regs (19, 20, 26).","Several requirements tied to animal age or production system status (mulesing age limits, castration/tail docking rules for >6 months, intensive system definitions), adding conditional branching."],"plain_english_summary":"**What these regulations do (mechanically)\n\n- The Animal Welfare (Sheep) Regulations 2023 set detailed duties and standards for people who care for sheep across the State. They sit under the Animal Welfare Act and apply to every sheep in the State, whether kept commercially or not (reg 6).\n\n- They define key terms used in the rules, including what counts as \"direct supervision\" and what counts as \"humane destruction\" (regs 3–5).\n\n- The regulations require particular handling, husbandry, treatment and housing practices: for example, handlers must minimise risk of injury or death (reg 7), provide adequate feed and water (reg 8), inspect sheep at appropriate intervals (reg 9), and keep wool length within breed norms (reg 10).\n\n- They set requirements and limits on common procedures: when and how to use electric prodders (reg 11), use dogs under effective control (reg 12), perform artificial breeding and embryo transfer (reg 20), castrate or tail‑dock older animals (reg 18), and perform mulesing (reg 19). The rules include age limits, requirements for pain relief, and qualifications or supervision for people performing those procedures.\n\n- Accommodation rules require facilities to be built and operated to reduce risk of injury or illness (reg 21), provide protection from adverse weather where reasonable (reg 22), provide daily exercise for tethered sheep (reg 23), and impose minimum standards for intensive production systems such as daily feed and inspection and space to lie down (reg 24). Single‑pen confinement as permanent housing is prohibited except on veterinary direction (reg 25).\n\n- The regulations control how sheep may be humanely destroyed, who may carry out euthanasia, and what methods are unacceptable if humane options are available (reg 26). They also require steps to confirm death (reg 26(3)) and provide a legal defence for urgent on‑farm destruction where a trained person cannot be reached in time (reg 26(2)).\n\n- Enforcement and penalties: many breaches attract fines (structured differently for individuals and corporate bodies, generally up to 50 or 100 penalty units for the maximum offence penalty). The regulations also list lower infringement notice amounts (Schedule 1) for specified offences, expressed in penalty units (reg 27 and Schedule 1).\n\nWho is affected\n\n- Primary responsibility rests on the person who \"has the care or charge\" of a sheep — this can be farm owners, managers, stockpeople, contractors, smallholders, and anyone who handles or supervises sheep (scattered across regs 7, 8, 9, 15, 20, 24, 26 etc.).\n\n- Veterinary surgeons and people with specific husbandry training are identified as the qualified persons for certain acts (e.g. surgical embryo transfer, euthanasia in normal circumstances) and as possible supervisors (regs 20, 26).\n\n- Corporations and individuals are treated differently for maximum fines (a body corporate faces higher maximum fines than an individual), and many offences have lower fixed infringement penalties for on‑the‑spot fines (Schedule 1).\n\nWhy it matters (stated purpose and practical effects)\n\n- The stated and observable purpose is to set specific, enforceable animal welfare standards for sheep in the State: to reduce injury, illness, unnecessary pain, and suffering by prescribing how sheep must be handled, treated, housed and, when necessary, humanely destroyed (see regs 7, 14, 15, 18, 19, 21–26).\n\n- Practical costs and incentives created by the regulations:\n  - Compliance costs for owners and carers: some procedures now require qualified personnel or direct supervision (regs 19(1), 20(1)–(2), 26(1)), and some actions must be accompanied by pain relief or bleeding control (regs 18, 19). That increases demand for veterinary services, training, and possibly labour or equipment (e.g. captive bolts, injection drugs) compared with less prescriptive practice.\n  - Operational choices: age limits for procedures (mulesing not before 14 days or after 6 months — reg 19(2); tail docking/castration rules for animals over 6 months — reg 18) and mandatory pain relief for older animals shift timing and method of procedures. Producers may adjust production schedules, seek alternative husbandry methods, or employ registered practitioners.\n  - Financial exposure: maximum fines appear substantial (up to 100 penalty units for corporate bodies on many offences), though the infringement notice system lists smaller, fixed penalties for common breaches (Schedule 1). Enforcement discretion will determine whether breaches result in infringement notices or prosecution.\n  - Behavioural effects: explicit bans (for example, trimming or grinding teeth — reg 16; pizzle incisions — reg 17) remove particular husbandry options; qualifications, supervision and equipment rules shape who performs procedures and how.\n\nImplementation and enforcement considerations\n\n- Many obligations are fact‑sensitive and rely on reasonable judgment (e.g. \"as far as is reasonable\" for weather protection — reg 22; \"reasonable management practices\" allowed in limited contexts — reg 8(2)). That creates room for inspector discretion and case‑by‑case assessment.\n\n- Several provisions require or permit direct supervision (defined in reg 4). The supervisory standard is specific (supervisor on the same premises, giving guidance, evaluating performance and able to assist immediately), which raises a clear, enforceable benchmark but also a compliance burden for workplaces that use trainees.\n\n- The regulations mix mandatory bright‑line rules (age limits, bans on specific acts) and flexible standards (\"reasonable steps\", \"appropriate pain relief\"), which both focuses enforcement on some practices and leaves others to interpretation.\n\nNet allocation of duties and costs\n\n- Who pays: owners/caregivers bear most compliance costs — they must provide feed, water, inspections, qualifications/supervision, pain relief, veterinary care, suitable infrastructure, and humane methods of destruction when needed (regs 8, 9, 15, 18–20, 21, 24–26).\n\n- Who decides on exceptions: veterinary surgeons can direct deviations in some cases (e.g. full tail removal if warranted — reg 18(2); single‑pen housing on veterinary direction — reg 25(2)). Inspectors and courts will ultimately interpret \"reasonable\" steps and whether qualifications and supervision meet the standard.\n\nTrade‑offs and likely substitution effects\n\n- The rules increase use of qualified personnel and analgesia for older animals and may reduce some previously permitted husbandry practices (teeth work, pizzle cutting, certain on‑farm killing methods where humane options are available). This may raise operating costs, shift demand to vets and trained stockpeople, and incentivise producers to change timing or method of procedures.\n\n- Smallholders and non‑commercial keepers are newly (or explicitly) in scope (reg 6), so the regulations can impose compliance costs on hobbyists and small operators as well as commercial producers.\n\nKey specific references (examples)\n\n- Application to all sheep: reg 6.\n- Direct supervision rules: reg 4.\n- Mulesing limits and pain relief: reg 19(2)(a)–(b).\n- Tail docking and castration pain‑relief and bleeding control requirements for animals over 6 months: reg 18(1) and (3).\n- Prohibitions on trimming or grinding teeth and pizzle incisions: regs 16, 17.\n- Intensive production minimums (daily feed, inspections, space to lie down, ventilation, waste management): reg 24.\n- Humane destruction qualifications and defence for urgent destruction: reg 26.\n- Infringement notice table and amounts: reg 27 and Schedule 1.\n\nSummary sentence\n\n- These regulations translate broad animal welfare obligations into a specific, enforceable set of standards and prohibitions for handling, procedures, housing and euthanasia of sheep, creating measurable duties for carers and a mix of prescriptive rules and reasonableness standards that affect both commercial producers and non‑commercial keepers."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation appears focused on its original purpose of establishing specific welfare standards for sheep. The scope covers handling, husbandry procedures, accommodation, and humane destruction—all directly related to sheep welfare. The inclusion of both commercial and non-commercial sheep (Regulation 6) is a standard application clause rather than scope creep. The intensive production system provisions (Part 5) address modern farming methods within the original welfare framework."},"complexity_factors":["Straightforward structure with 5 Parts covering preliminary matters, general requirements, procedures, accommodation, and miscellaneous provisions","27 defined terms across the instrument, with most definitions contained within the regulations they relate to rather than a central dictionary","Multiple exceptions and qualifications (e.g., emergency exceptions to handling rules, veterinary exemptions to tail docking restrictions, defence provisions for humane destruction)","Nested conditions in several provisions (e.g., Regulation 11(2) has 5 separate prohibitions on electric prodder use, with sub-regulation (3) providing a two-part exception to two of those prohibitions)","Consistent penalty structure repeated 31 times (50/100 penalty units), creating verbosity but not conceptual complexity","Cross-references between regulations (e.g., 'direct supervision' defined in Reg 4, used in Regs 19 and 20) and reference to parent Animal Welfare Act 1993","Age-based thresholds creating conditional obligations (6 months for pain relief in castration/tail docking, 14 days-6 months for mulesing, 3 months for electric prodders, 10kg for forehead blows)"],"plain_english_summary":"This legislation sets out the rules for how sheep must be treated in Tasmania. It applies to everyone who owns or looks after sheep, whether they're running a commercial farm or just keeping a few pets.\n\n**What it covers:**\n\n- **Basic care**: Sheep must have adequate food and water, proper shelter from extreme weather, and regular health checks. Facilities like fences and sheds must be built and maintained to minimise injury risk.\n\n- **Handling rules**: You can't lift sheep by their head, ears, horns, neck, tail, wool or single leg. You can't drag sheep that aren't standing unless it's an emergency. Dogs used for handling must respond immediately to commands.\n\n- **Banned practices**: Trimming or grinding sheep teeth is prohibited. \"Pizzle dropping\" (cutting the prepuce area) is banned. Electric prodders can't be used on sensitive areas like the face, genitals or on lambs under 3 months old.\n\n- **Procedures like mulesing and castration**: These can only be done by skilled people (or trainees under direct supervision). Pain relief is mandatory for sheep over 6 months old. Mulesing is restricted to sheep between 14 days and 6 months old.\n\n- **Shearing**: Wool can't be allowed to grow longer than twice the average annual growth for the breed.\n\n- **Intensive farming**: Special rules apply when sheep are confined for 4+ weeks, including daily inspections, sufficient space for all sheep to lie down at once, and proper waste management.\n\n- **Humane killing**: Only trained people or vets can destroy sheep. There are restrictions on using blows to the head or cutting blood vessels when better methods are available.\n\n**Penalties**: Most offences carry fines up to 50 penalty units for individuals and 100 for companies. Lower on-the-spot fines (2 units for individuals, 10 for companies) apply for many offences if dealt with via infringement notices.\n\n**Why it matters**: These regulations translate general animal welfare principles into specific, enforceable standards for sheep farming, protecting animal welfare while giving farmers clear guidance on what's required and what's prohibited."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Based on the available metadata, there is no indication the scope has changed from its original intent. The regulations appear to have been in force in their original form since 12 July 2023 with no amendments recorded in the provided information."},"complexity_factors":["Only metadata and status information was provided — the substantive regulatory content is absent, making full analysis impossible","Regulations of this type typically involve technical animal husbandry standards, but none are visible here","As a subordinate instrument (regulation rather than an Act), it operates within a parent legislative framework, adding one layer of complexity","Tasmanian-specific jurisdiction limits applicability, reducing cross-jurisdictional complexity"],"plain_english_summary":"The Animal Welfare (Sheep) Regulations 2023 (Tasmania) set legally enforceable welfare standards for sheep under the Animal Welfare Act, establishing obligations for their care and protection. They affect sheep farmers, graziers, shearers, transporters and anyone who owns or handles sheep in Tasmania, with non‑compliance carrying potential penalties. Note: the supplied document contains only status/metadata; the full text is needed to review specific duties and penalties."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/animal-welfare-sheep-regulations-2023","history":"/api/acts/animal-welfare-sheep-regulations-2023/history","analysis":"/api/acts/animal-welfare-sheep-regulations-2023/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/animal-welfare-sheep-regulations-2023/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/animal-welfare-sheep-regulations-2023/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/animal-welfare-sheep-regulations-2023/documents"}}