WELLINGTON, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Regulations to strengthen New Zealand's animal welfare system came into effect on Monday, said Minister of Agriculture Damien O'Connor.

"Two thirds of us have pets and we love them. Further, New Zealand's economy relies on our social license to produce the finest food and fiber, and it can take one case of poor animal welfare to harm this," O'Connor said in a statement.

These regulations have been developed over the past three years, in consultation with industry and advocacy groups, and target lower-end offending, O'Connor said.

While most people care for their animals and are already doing it right, the regulations make it easier to take action against animal mistreatment and target specific behaviors that need to change, he said.

From today, animal welfare inspectors from the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals can issue fines for certain actions, such as allowing dogs in cars to get heat stressed, or failing to provide tethered goats with access to water and shelter, the minister said.

"Some of the regulations are infringement offences, with a set fine, while others are prosecutable offences, which could result in a larger fine and criminal conviction," he said.

Farmers also need to be aware of the new regulations, which cover on-farm practices and transporting livestock. Most of the regulations reflect existing farm practices but a few set new requirements, O'Connor added.