Commentary on Sections Codes of practice Section 14: Codes of practice
75.Codes of practice are already widely used to promote the welfare of farmed animals and the Act extends their use to non-farmed animals.
76.Codes provide non-binding guidance - agreed by Parliament after appropriate consultation - that enforcers and the courts can refer to when making judgements on whether the relevant welfare standards stipulated in the Act have been attained. Owners and keepers of animals may also find the codes a useful resource by which to increase or confirm their understanding of acceptable welfare standards and to regulate their conduct accordingly.