Under the transitional arrangements in the HSNO Act animals at existing registered zoos and circuses are deemed to be new organisms under the Act and the registrations are deemed to be approvals to import into containment. The approvals are then subject to the condition that the animals remain at the place of registration, and to the relevant controls in the Zoological Gardens Regulations 1977 carried forward as part of the transitional provisions.
9.1 Summary
A number of issues have been identified as necessary to complete the transition to the HSNO regime for animals in zoos and circuses that are new organisms.
It is proposed that the HSNO Act be amended to achieve this. These proposed amendments include giving ERMA the discretion to apply, on a case-by-case basis, containment controls and any other controls necessary to give effect to the purpose of the Act to animals that are new organisms in existing registered zoos and circuses.
In other respects, these animals will be treated as any other new organism in containment. This means that the Animal Welfare Act 1999 will deal with animal welfare matters. The relevant containment standard will apply and registration and other matters relevant to the containment facility and its operation would be dealt with by MAF under the Biosecurity Act. However, current MAF registrations as zoos and circuses will need to be replaced with MAF approvals as containment facilities.
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9. Zoo and circus animals
September 2002
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