Code of Animal Welfare

Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration Committee (MSCC) and the Code of Animal Welfare 

The Code of Animal Welfare (for pet owners) and the Code of Animal Welfare (for the pet industry), launched in October 2016, were both drafted and submitted to AVA by the Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration Committee (MSCC). 

Chaired by Mr Alex Yam, Member of Parliament for Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency, MSCC was formed in October 2013. It serves as a platform for stakeholders to share their views, build mutual understanding on issues relating to animal welfare, and enhance collaborative efforts in promoting animal welfare in Singapore. 

MSCC comprises representatives from Members of Parliament, the community, animal welfare groups, the pet industry, the veterinary profession, and AVS. While formulating the codes of animal welfare, MSCC took into consideration the varied interests of various stakeholder groups represented in the committee, as well as the views of the wider public.

Code of Animal Welfare (for pet owners) 

The Code of Animal Welfare (for pet owners) was issued by the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA)* on 15 June 2017. The code specifies the minimum standards for animal housing, management, and care that pet owners are expected to comply with.

The Code of Animal Welfare (for pet owners) is made available in the form of a booklet and infographics.  

Download it here: 

Code of Animal Welfare (for pet owners) Booklet

Code of Animal Welfare (for pet owners) Infographic

These materials can be obtained from veterinary clinics, pet shops, animal welfare groups, public libraries, and at our community events on responsible pet ownership. 

Code of Animal Welfare (for pet industry) 

The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA)* issued the Code of Animal Welfare (for the pet industry) on 11 August 2016.   

Effected on 1 October 2016, the Code comprises minimum standards for animal housing, management, and care which pet businesses are expected to comply with and best practices on animal housing, management, and care, which pet businesses are encouraged to adopt to further raise the quality of animal welfare in Singapore. 

Download it here: 

 Code of Animal Welfare (for the pet industry)

For a summary of the Code of Animal Welfare (for pet industry), please refer to the infographic. 

Download it here: 

Code of Animal Welfare (for the pet industry) Infographic

 *The Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore is dissolved, effective 1 April 2019. All farm, food and fishery functions will be managed by the Singapore Food Agency, while the animal and veterinary functions will come under the purview of the Animal & Veterinary Service, a cluster of the National Parks Board.  

Guidelines and advisories

To learn more about guidelines and advisories on animal welfare, please refer to this page.