Animal Health and Welfare Enforcement

Kevin P. Jones

Senior Trading Standards Officer (Commerce)

19 December 2007

Wrexham County Borough Council has a duty to:-

• Protect the welfare of animals on farm, in transit and at markets

• Prevent, control and eradicate animal diseases

• Ensure that animal movements can be traced to safeguard animal health from transmitted disease

What we do

Animal Health and Welfare conduct routine visits to:-• Farms• Markets• Collection centres• Abattoirs• Export assembly centres• Other animal gatherings e.g. shows, haulage firms and

hunt kennels

These visits are conducted not only to ensure compliance with the law but also offer advice on current and new legislation.

Where we work

On the Farm

All farmers have a duty to maintain records and correctly identify their livestock to ensure traceability in the event of a disease outbreak. Inspectors visit farms and check these records and relevant documents.

During the visit they also check that the livestock is healthy, disease free and correctly identified. As important food producers farms are also checked to ensure that they produce food hygienically and animal feedstuffs are safe to feed to livestock.

Animal Health and Welfare Inspectors are required to regularly attend markets, abattoirs and collection centres to:-

• Ensure that animals are fit to be there, identified correctly, have correct documentation and are competently handled.

• Ensure that premises and vehicles are fit for purpose and that correct cleansing and disinfection is implemented to minimise disease risk.

Markets Abattoirs Collection Centres

There are strict rules detailing how animals can be transported. To ensure compliance with these rules Inspectors conduct routine checks at markets, collection centres, abattoirs and farms. Roadside checks are carried out with the Police.

During Transportation

If cruelty is suspected the Council has a duty to investigate complaints from members of the public and/or animal welfare organisations regarding the welfare of livestock.

When an inspector suspects an animal has been caused unnecessary suffering they will ask a veterinary surgeon employed by the Animal Health Agency to examine the animal.

If suffering has been caused the Council may decide to prosecute, this can lead to a fine and/or prison sentence and even a ban from keeping animals.

Animal Cruelty

When disease is suspected all local authorities must have contingency plans to deal with the outbreak of diseases such as Foot and Mouth, Rabies and Avian Influenza. In Wales, local authorities have worked together to produce model plans to ensure a consistent approach.

Disease Control

Working Together

In order to promote high standards in animal health and welfare. Inspectors work closely with other agencies such as Animal Health Agency, Welsh Assembly Government, RSPCA, Environment Agency and Farming Unions, and are constantly reviewing these relationships to ease the regulatory burden on livestock keepers.

Targeted Enforcement Activity

Inspections – the frequency of an inspection is be determined by the risk factor of the premises. The risk score is calculated from the species and number of livestock kept, business classification and levels of compliance with legislation. This risk score will determines how often a premises is inspected.

• High risk premises: annual inspection• Medium risk premises: once every two years• Low risk premises: once every five years

Livestock holdings that have not already had a visit will be a priority for inspection.

Enforcement

If legislative breaches are found during inspection they are dealt with either by advice, a re-visit, a warning or in severe or persistent cases, prosecution. In welfare matters inspectors can also issue improvement notices requiring certain action to be taken by a keeper.

Inspectors are also obliged to pass on serious breaches of cross compliance rules to the Welsh Assembly Government for their further action. This ca affect the single farm payment.

Education

Prosecution is seen to be the last resort. Prosecution or severe enforcement penalties are meant to be reserved for those who deliberately flout the law. Working with the agricultural industry and developing education and advice initiatives is seen to be the best way to secure compliance across all sectors.

Local Initiatives

• One Stop Shop – this is a dedicated phone line for the agricultural industry in the Wrexham County Borough Council area. The industry can phone one number and receive comprehensive advice and assistance from members of the animal health team. This was particularly useful in the recent Foot and Mouth and Bluetongue outbreaks. Telephone 01978 813774.

• Wrexham Animal Health Enforcement Forum – this is a forum that meets twice yearly and members include other enforcement agencies, representatives of farming unions, local farmers, livestock keepers and provides up to date information on the latest developments and issues facing the industry and enforcers.

• Farming Standards Newsletter – twice yearly newsletter which goes out to all agricultural holdings in Wrexham County Borough Council keeping them up to date on the latest developments and sources of information.

Facts and Figures

Senior Enforcement Officer

Enforcement Officer

Enforcement Support Officer

Technical Support Officer

Local Authority Profile:

898 Livestock premises

3 Abattoirs

4 Knackers/Hunt Kennels

38 Hauliers

700+ Feed Hygiene premises

Enforcement Activities

So far this year:

304 Business Advice

123 Warnings

7 Prosecutions

4 Cautions

Current Issues

• Bluetongue in Europe

Current Issues

• Bluetongue in the UK

Current Issues

•Avian Influenza

Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Croatia, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos, Malaysia, Mauritania, Mongolia, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine Auton. Territories, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia & Montenegro, South Africa, South Korea, Sudan, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vietnam.

Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, France, Slovakia, Sweden, Poland, Denmark, Czech Republic and UK) and in domestic poultry in 6 Member States (in chronological order France, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Hungary, United Kingdom and the Czech Republic).

Current Issues

•Foot and Mouth•On Farm Hygiene Controls•Transport•Bovine TB•Animal By Products•Animal Welfare•Resource Issues•Service Reviews

Recent Activities

Recent Activities

Recent Activities

Recent Activities

Recent Activities

Recent Activities

Recent Activities

Recent Activities

Recent Activities