Important regulatory changes

It has been brought to my attention that the recently updated Victorian Prevention of Cruelty to Animals regulation (2019) (POCTA) includes the requirement that all household fruit tree netting in use must have a mesh-size of no more than 5mm, measured at full stretch, from September 2021.

Current standard netting has a mesh of approximately 20mm.

I have written a request for clarity regarding the terms ¨household¨ and ¨fruit netting¨ and sought advice regarding the potential for exemption based on size and method of use. At the moment my advice is if you need new nets ensure they meet the new standard.

The applicable clauses from ´Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2019 S.R. No. 133/2019´

¨13 …

(1) A person must not use fruit netting for the purposes of covering household fruit-trees, vegetable gardens and other fruiting plants unless it complies with subregulation (3). Penalty: 15 penalty units.

…

(3) For the purpose of this regulation, fruit netting must have a mesh-size of 5 mm x 5 mm or less at full stretch.¨

Regulation 13 comes into operation on 1 September 2021.

https://content.legislation.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-06/19-133sra002%20authorised.pdf