Animal Welfare (Protection of Animals) Law, 5754-1994
חוק צער בעלי חיים (הגנה על בעלי חיים), תשנ"ד-1994
Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More
This English text was translated from the official Hebrew using a range of translation tools, and it undergoes ongoing checks and updates. It is not a certified translation.
Despite these checks, it may contain errors, omissions, or imprecise renderings of legal terminology and cross-references, and it may not yet reflect the latest amendments. It cannot be relied upon as a legal text.
The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.
This translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For use in legal proceedings, request a certified Expert Legal Opinion.
Definitions§
In this Law –
"animal welfare organisation" means a registered corporation whose purpose and occupation is the protection of animals, the prevention of suffering to them and care for their wellbeing;
"animal" means a vertebrate, other than a human being;
"keeper" means a person in whose possession or under whose responsibility an animal is, including within the framework of his occupation;
"the Supervisor" means a veterinarian, an employee of the Veterinary Services in the Ministry, appointed by the Director for the purposes of this Law;
"the Director" means the Director of the Veterinary Services in the Ministry;
"the Ministry" means the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development;
"protected facility" means a place approved by the Supervisor under section 8(c);
"animal trustee" means a person appointed to be an animal trustee under section 7;
"the Fund" means the Fund for Animals established under section 14;
"the Minister" means the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Prohibition of Abuse§
Prohibition of Abandonment of an Animal§
Duty of Owner or Keeper to Care for the Animal and to Prevent Abuse of It§
Prohibition of Declawing§
(Repealed — תיקון מס' 10, 2015)
Prohibition of Killing by Poison§
An animal shall not be killed by strychnine or by another poison designated by the Director by notice in Reshumot (Official Gazette), unless the Director has granted a permit to do so.
Prohibition of Refusal or Granting of Priority in the Transfer of Animals§
Authorisation of Inspectors§
Supervisory Powers§
For the purpose of supervising the implementation of the provisions under this Law, the Supervisor or an inspector, after having identified themselves under section 6a, may –
Enforcement Powers§
Where a suspicion arises that an offence against the provisions of this Law has been committed, the Supervisor or an inspector may –
Identification of the Supervisor and Inspectors§
The Supervisor or an inspector shall not exercise the powers vested in them under this Law except in the course of performing their duties, and where all of the following conditions are met, as the case may be:
Animal Trustee§
The Minister for Environmental Quality, with the consent of a district commander in the Israel Police, may appoint any person to be an animal trustee. An animal trustee so appointed may, after presenting the animal trustee's certificate of appointment, require, for the purpose of lodging a complaint, a person who has committed an offence against this Law in the presence of the animal trustee to identify themselves; a person so required to identify themselves is obliged to do so.
Seizure of an Animal§
Compulsory Killing or Slaughter of an Animal Kept for Agricultural Purposes§
Notice of Seizure and Release§
Restriction on Return of an Animal§
Application to Court§
Payment of Expenses§
Transfer of Ownership§
Compulsory Treatment or Killing§
Fund for Animals§
Reduction of the Reproduction of Stray Animals§
Private Criminal Complaint§
An animal welfare organisation – approved by the Minister for Environmental Quality after consultation with the Minister – may, after receiving approval therefor from a District Attorney, file a private complaint with a court as referred to in section 68 of the Criminal Procedure Law [Consolidated Version], 5742-1982, in respect of an offence under this Law.
The State's Legal Status§
For the purposes of this Law, the State shall be treated as any person; a person authorised under this Law to exercise powers as referred to in sections 5a, 6 and 8 may exercise his powers under this Law in relation to the State and its institutions.
Limitation on Application to the Security Establishment§
"security establishment" means any one of the following:
"the responsible Minister" means as set out below, as the case may be:
Penalties and Allocation of Fines§
Orders§
"prosecutor" – as defined in section 12 of the Criminal Procedure Law [Consolidated Version], 5742-1982;
"animal welfare organisation" – an animal welfare organisation approved by the Minister for Environmental Quality after consultation with the Minister.
Liability of an Office Holder in a Corporation§
Savings Provisions§
Implementation and Regulations§
The Minister is charged with the implementation of this Law, and may, with the approval of the Education and Culture Committee of the Knesset and with due regard to the needs of agriculture, make Regulations for its implementation and for the attainment of the objectives of this Law, including in respect of –
Delegation of Powers§
The Supervisor may delegate his powers under this Law, in whole or in part, to a veterinarian who is an employee of the Veterinary Services in the Ministry, provided that where the delegation is in respect of supervisory and enforcement powers, the veterinarian meets the conditions of section 5.
Amendment of the Criminal Procedure Law – No. 17§
In the Second Schedule to the Criminal Procedure Law [Consolidated Version], 5742-1982, after paragraph (16) the following shall be inserted:
"(17) The Animal Welfare Law, 5754-1994, subject to the limitations referred to in section 15 of that Law."
Repeal§
Section 495 of the Penal Law, 5737-1977 – is repealed.
Limitation on Application§
This Law shall not apply –
Commencement§
Section 15 shall commence six months from the date of its publication.
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חוק צער בעלי חיים (הגנה על בעלי חיים), תשנ"ד-1994
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