Sheep farming in New Zealand is regulated through an integrated framework of Acts, regulations, codes of welfare, and industry assurance standards. Together, these instruments govern animal welfare, biosecurity, animal identification and movement, use of veterinary medicines, food safety, and environmental impacts. Responsibility for implementation and enforcement is shared across central government agencies, regional councils, veterinarians, meat processors, and farmers.
Animal welfare obligations for sheep are established under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.
The Act imposes a legal duty of care on every person in charge of an animal to ensure that the animal’s physical, health, and behavioural needs are met (Animal Welfare Act 1999, s 10). The Act also establishes offences, penalties, and enforcement powers, including inspection, seizure, and prosecution (ss 127–131).
Legally enforceable minimum standards for sheep arise from two sources:
The Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018 prescribe specific mandatory requirements, including:
The Code of Welfare: Sheep sets minimum standards and recommended best practice for:
Failure to meet a minimum standard in a Code of Welfare may be used as evidence of an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 (s 13).
Regulatory oversight, investigation, and enforcement are carried out by the Ministry for Primary Industries, whose inspectors are authorised to investigate complaints, audit farms, issue infringement notices, and prosecute serious breaches.
Biosecurity in the sheep sector is governed by the Biosecurity Act 1993.
This Act provides MPI with powers to prevent, detect, manage, and eradicate pests and diseases, including exotic and emerging animal diseases (Biosecurity Act 1993, ss 12–17). It enables surveillance, tracing, movement controls, controlled area notices, and eradication responses.
Under the Act, sheep farmers are required to:
The sheep sector participates in Government–Industry Agreements under the Biosecurity Act 1993 (Part 5A). These agreements define shared decision-making, preparedness obligations, and cost-sharing arrangements during biosecurity responses. Industry partners, including Beef + Lamb New Zealand and meat processors, contribute to readiness planning, farmer communication, and response implementation.
Sheep traceability in New Zealand is currently managed through the Animal Status Declaration (ASD) system, administered by OSPRI under the oversight of MPI. Unlike cattle and deer, sheep are not currently subject to the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) Act 2012, which applies only to those species.
An ASD is a legal document that must be completed by the Person in Charge of Animals (PICA) whenever sheep are moved between properties, to saleyards, or to a meat processor. ASDs transfer key information about the animals including withholding period status, TB status, and farming practices relevant to food safety and export eligibility. A new ASD form came into effect on 3 June 2025, updated to align with EU veterinary medicine regulations relating to antimicrobial use.
Farmer obligations under the ASD system include:
ASDs can be completed electronically via MyOSPRI or on paper. MPI is currently consulting (as of early 2026) on options to strengthen sheep traceability, including mandatory electronic ASDs and potential inclusion of sheep in NAIT at mob level, in response to biosecurity preparedness concerns around foot-and-mouth disease.
The use of veterinary medicines in dairy farming is regulated under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) Act 1997.
The ACVM Act governs the registration, authorisation, sale, supply, and use of veterinary medicines in New Zealand (ACVM Act 1997, ss 8–22).
Many antimicrobials, reproductive hormones, and other therapeutics used in sheep are classified as Restricted Veterinary Medicines (RVMs). RVMs may only be supplied or used under veterinary authorisation.
Key regulatory and professional requirements include:
Veterinarians play a formal regulatory role through:
Residue compliance is monitored through processor verification programmes and MPI surveillance. Non-compliance may trigger enforcement action and poses significant food safety and trade risks.
Sheep meat production is regulated under the Animal Products Act 1999.
The Act establishes a risk-based framework to ensure animal products are fit for their intended purpose and meet domestic and export requirements (Animal Products Act 1999, s 8).
Meat processors operating export-approved slaughter premises must operate under a registered Risk Management Programme (RMP) approved by MPI. On-farm requirements that interface with processor RMPs typically include:
Farmers are responsible for ensuring animals are fit for transport and that all withholding periods have been observed before dispatch to the works. Processors verify compliance through pre-slaughter checks, residue testing, and corrective action processes, with MPI providing regulatory oversight.
Environmental impacts of sheep farming are regulated primarily under the Resource Management Act 1991.
The Act governs land use, water quality, and discharges to the environment (RMA 1991, ss 9–15). National policy statements and national environmental standards set overarching objectives, while regional councils implement and enforce rules through regional plans.
Regional councils are responsible for:
Farmers may be required to operate under farm environment plans, nutrient budgets, and consent conditions, particularly in sensitive or regulated catchments.
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