SINGAPORE - Codes of Animal Welfare have been submitted to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) for review.

This was announced on Saturday morning by Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC who is a member of the Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration Committee for Animal Welfare (MSCC) which had asked the public to provide feedback for the codes of animal welfare earlier this year.

Mr Yeo, who was speaking at a PETAS' Responsible Pet Ownership event at Asia Square, said: "The codes were formulated because there was no clear agreed definition on what is deemed as good welfare standards. The MSCC thus had to start from scratch to establish that common ground through discussion consultation and agreement from the various members who represent different stakeholder groups."

The codes will serve as guidelines, but can be used as a reference to support the investigation and prosecution of an offence. A summarised version will be made available on the AVA's website on Saturday.

In September, Mr Yeo and MPs Mr Alex Yam, Mr Gan Thiam Poh, Mr Eugene Tong and Mr Vikram Nair will be tabling in parliament a private member's bill to amend the Animals and Birds Act. One of the proposals in this bill is to empower AVA to issue or adopt animal welfare codes.

The MSCC, which is chaired by MP for Chua Chu Kang GRC Mr Alex Yam, was established in October 2013 to serve as a platform for stakeholders to share their views and build up mutual understanding on animal welfare. Other committee members include Ms Corinne Fong, the executive director of the Singapore Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Mr Louis Ng, the executive director of the Animal Concerns Research & Education Society.