Welfare legislation

Página 1

Part 1 - all animals in UK

Animal welfare act 06

All domestic animals

Prevents unnecessary suffering

Duty of care of owners

Welfare of animals transport order 06

All domestics (except with owners on a private journey)

Farm animals

Welfare of farmed animals regulation 07

Prevents unnecessary suffering

General and specific requirements for ensuring welfare of animals

Mutilations (permitted procedures) 07

Castration and dehorning of farmed species

Welfare of animals at time of killing (Public Health Lecture)

Welfare of animals markets order 90

Laboratory animals

Animal scientific procedures (Laboratory animal welfare)

Companion animal welfare

Dangerous dogs act 91 (Companion animal welfare lecture)

Pet animals act 51

Animal boarding establishment act

The breeding of dogs act 73, 91

The breeding and sale of dogs welfare act 99

Wildlife legislation (wild life lecture)

Wildlife and countryside act 81

Dangerous wild animals

Dangerous wild animals act 76

Circuses zoos

Performing animals act 25

Zoo licensing act 81 Regulations 02

Riding stables

Riding establishment act 64, 70

Vets role

Knowledge of UK legislation

Advice to client day 1 comp

Professional witness

Expert witness

Enforcement authority

Meat hygiene service

Animal health veterinary laboratories agency

Policy development

Why do we need legislation?

Prevention of deliberate unjustifiable acts of cruelty (Unnecessary suffering)

Ensure reasonable quality of life (determining welfare standards animals must be kept)

History

Changes over time as public opinion changes

Early views - no care for animal welfare (though some religions did)

Early laws to prevent wanton cruelty

Protection of animals act 1911

After WW2 intensive farming methods developed so did a growing concern on our use of animals

Animals housed indoors

Movement of animals restricted

Animal rights notion began in 1970s

Science tells us animals have sentience and should be reflected in our laws

Recognised by an EU treaty

Consequences

Bramble report 65 highlighted

Scientific recommendations to safeguard welfare

Need for welfare research

Need for further legislation

The agriculture (miscellaneous provisions) Act 68

Codes of recommendation for livestock welfare

Welfare codes

Contains legislation

set out legal standards for specific species

failure to comply subject to prosecution

Best practise advice

not law

guidance on maintaining high standards of husbandry

failure to comply with standards can be used to back up prosecution

Farmers and workers should be familiar to them and have access to them

Currently require updating (not 100% effective)

Farm Animal Welfare Committee (FAWC)

Formed in 1979- any previous names

Independent government advisory body

Reviews welfare throughout animals life

on agriculture land

at market

in transit

at place of slaughter

Publish advice independently (government can use or ignore)

CAME UP WITH 5 FREEDOMS

5 freedoms

Freedom from hunger and thirst

Freedom from discomfort

Freedom from pain and injury and disease

Freedom form fear

Freedom to express normal behaviour

EU

Level playing field when trading

These legislations must be transposed onto UK law

Welfare of farmed animals regulations 07

Welfare of animals at market 90

Welfare of animals at time of killing 13

Animal welfare act 06

UK law so not affected by Brexit

Until 06 all domestics had was 1911 protection of animals act. For an offence to be dealt animal had to be suffering

Introduces a duty of care to all owners/keepers of vertebrate animals to ensure welfare of animals in their care

Devolved -- England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland have slightly different acts

Protected animals

Domesticated in British isles

Under control of man

Not living in wild state

Vertebrates

Exclusions

Animals Scientific Procedures Act

Shooting

Fishing

Responsibility for animals

Owners responsible

Those in charge of animal permanently or temporarily share responsibility with owner

Parents or guardians of under 16s

Prevention of harm

Offences (unnecessary suffering)

Act/Failure to act causing unnecessary suffering

Reasonable knowledge that act/failure to act would cause suffering

Didnt prevent actions of others resulting in suffering

Administration of poisons

Fighting

Unnecessary suffering?

Was conduct causing suffering for a legitimate purpose?

Benefitting animal?

Protecting a person?

Protecting property?

Protecting another animal?

Was suffering proportionate to purpose of conduct?

Could suffering have been avoided or reduced?

Is conduct reasonably competent and humane?

Prevention of harm

Mutilations

Procedure which involves interference with sensitive tissues or bone structure of the animal other than for medical treatment

Banned with few exemptions (Mutilation permitted procedures act 07)

Spaying

Castration

Dehorning

E.g. Tail docking in dogs

Not allowed for cosmetic reason

Allowed as medical treatment

Allowed for certified working dogs

Promotion of welfare

Duty to ensure welfare

Offence for person responsible to not take reasonable steps to ensure needs of animal are met in accordance to good practise

Suitable environment

Diet

Ability to exhibit normal behaviour

Housing with or away from other animals

Protection form suffering, injury and disease

Care/improvement notices

Put into place because there was too much time before any legal action could be taken whilst animals suffer

Owner is failing to secure welfare of animal then inspector may serve care notice

Notice specifies nature of failure steps required for rectification and compliance period

No offence if recommended steps taken

Provision for securing welfare with further regulation

Provision for licensing or registration of activates involving animals

Prohibition of sale of animals to those under 16

Cant give animals as prizes

Enforcement powers

Common informers act states anyone can bring prosecution

Formal powers

Animal health plant agency,

Local authority officers (riding standards)

Police (if severe)

RSPCA or other welfare charities have no formal powers

Need owners consent to search premiseses or seize animal

If not given consent then need to be accompanied by one of the above

Taking possession of animas

If suffering/likely to suffer can be done with or without veterinary certificate (in reasonable circumstance)

Include dependent offspring

Care for where found or another appropriate place

Powers of entry for search

Destruction of animals

By inspector/constable

With veterinary certification or without (in reasonable circumstance)

Seizure of animals involved in fighting

Entry and search under warrant/for arrest

Inspection in connection with licences/registration

Compliance

Records

Inspection of farm premises

Prosecution

post conviction powers

Imprisonment or fine

Term up to 5 years

Max £20,000

Deprivation orders

Animals removed

Disqualification orders

Owning/keeping animals

Seizure orders where disqualification is breached

Termination/variation of disqualification

Court decides

Appeals also allowed

Página 2

Part 2 -- farm animal

Vets Role

RCVS -Knowledge of UK legislation

Advice to your client Day 1 competences

Professional witness

Expert witness

Enforcement authority

Animal Health Plant Agency

Meat Hygiene Service

Policy development

Where?

Comes from EU parliament

In place to level standards across EU

Countries can make own legislation over and above but may result in trade disadvantage.

Balance between good welfare and Industry

E.g. UK ban on dry sow stalls in 1999

Legislation

On farm

Animal welfare act 06 UK Act

Welfare of farm animal regulations 07

Mutilation permitted procedures

Travel

Welfare of animals during transport council regulation 05

At market

Welfare of animals at market

At slaughter

Welfare of animals at time of killing 13

Sources of poor welfare

Neglet

Cruelty (Abuse)

Farming systems

Intensive

Production diseases

Deprived environments

Volume driven markets

History

Traditional extensive systems

Outdoor natural environment

Smaller number of animals

Greater individual value

Main problem was cruelty and neglect from stockpersons

Protections of animals act 1911

Offence cruelty

Offence of unnecessary pain and unnecessary suffering

Post war farming industrialised to increase production

Genetics/Nutrition

Milk- 60 litres per day

Eggs- 310 per year

Meat - faster growth rates and increased muscle mass

Transport

International trade live exports

National trade

Husbandry systems

Housed

Greater stocking densities

Less manpower

Automation

Lower individual value

Increased production

Legislation evolved in response to those changes, largely through EU legislation

Current challanges

BREXIT

Continued intensification

Technology - improve monitoring of animals ?

Global trade

Climate change

Population increase

Food security issues - balance animal welfare and availability of affordable food

Farm Legislation

Safeguard animal welfare

Minimum standards

Balanced against farmers ability to produce food profitably and competitively in a global market

Animal welfare act 06

Not EU legislation

See previous page

Welfare of farmed animals regulations 07

Implements EU directives in UK

General requirements all owners shall take

To ensure the welfare of animals under their care

Animals aren't caused unnecessary pain and suffering

General requirements

Staff competent

Frequency of inspection

Good bedding (dry and well maintained)

Ill animals treated without delay, veterinary advice sought

Records kept

Freedom of movement

Building's equipment clean and wont cause injury

Feed and water

Breeding practises

Specific requirements for each species

Laying hens

Other poutry

Calves

Cattle

Pigs

Rabbits

Sheep just have general requirements as the generally don't need more

e.g. 2012 changes to battery cages

Enforcement

Animal Plant Health Agency

Local authority

Trading Standards

Welfare codes

Codes of recommendation

Welfare regulations

Tagging regulations

Movements

All species

Diseases control regulations

Mutilations

Mutilations permitted procedures act 07

Vet surgeons act 66

Calves castration

Over 2 months require anaesthetic and must be castrated by vet

Under 2 months may be castrated by trained competent person using a bloodless castrator

Dehorning/Disbudding

All ages local anaesthetic

Under 1 week dehorning paste

Done by trained competent

Sheep castration/tail docking

Over 3 months require anaesthetic and vet

Rubber ring first week

Transport

Experienced by almost all farmed animals

Number of times transported and conditions of transport related to species and production system

International trade in animals

Live export for transport abroad

BVA states that animals should be slaughtered as close to their farms of origin

Transport of calves for veal production abroad

Concerns

Handling on loading and unloading

Can be reduced by design of vehicle

Fighting/Mixed/Social disruption

Food and water withdrawal

Motion

Acceleration

Vibration

Fatigue

Noise

Confinement

Thermal challenges

Spread of disease

Mortality

Decreased carcass/meat quality Economic losses

Stress

Weight loss

Injury due to other animals/vehicles

Poultry

Depopulation of houses

Time pressure

Leg pain in broilers/turkeys

Fractures in laying hens

Thermal stress

Journey times

Access to feed and water

Pigs

Fear at loading and unloading

Goad use

Mixing stock

Ramp angles

Dark vehicles

Lairages

Heat stress and dehydration

Motion sickness

Overcrowding

Injures

Trampling

Suffocation

Cattle

Similar to pigs (see above)

Transport of young bulls

Dairy males

Veal calves/Beef calves

Mixing young bulls

Lactating cows need milking

Stocking rates allow lie down and rest

Sheep

Similar to pigs (see above)

Frequency of transport

Space allowance, larger for unshorn and pregnant animals

Feed provision during rest stop

Relevant legislation

EU - Welfare in transport regulation 05 and Welfare of animals transport Order 06

All animals except pets with owner on private journey

General provisions

Journey should be planned and time kept to minimum

Animals should be checked and needs met during the journey

Animals fit to travel

Loading and unloading facilities suitable

Those handling animals (and driver) are trained and competent and don't use any methods causing unnecessary fear, injury or suffering

Water, feed and rest given to animals as needed

Sufficient floor space and height is allowed

Vehicle design

Specific requirements for each species and according to length of journey

UK enforcement by local authority trading standards but AHPA and police can be involved

Advice on fitness to travel

Owners decision

If animal is ill or injured it is unfit to travel

Unless minor injury and animal can bear weight on all legs and walk unaided

For emergency veterinary treatment

Pregnant animals can't travel in last 10% of gestation

Lactating must be milked every 12 hours

Not young animals over 100km

Calves under 10 days

Pigs 3 wks

Lambs 1 wk

Not dogs and cats under 8 wks unless with mother

Calves under 14 days can't be transported for more than 8 hours

Global

OIE get nations to work together to improve welfare standards globally