People can now submit their ideas for a new Codes of Animal Welfare for pet owners and the pet industry.

The guidelines will be developed by the Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration Committee set up last October to promote animal welfare. It is chaired by Choa Chu Kang MP Alex Yam and includes the heads of various animal welfare groups here.

The codes are meant to act as standards for the care of animals, and can be used as references for the investigation and prosecution of cruelty to animals. Separate guidelines will be set out for pet owners and the pet industry.

"The codes... are applicable to any person owning pets in Singapore and all sectors of the pet industry, regardless of whether they are regulated by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA)," the agency said in a press statement. To contribute, go to www.reach.gov.sg