The
Welsh Assembly Government, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (Defra) and the Scottish Executive (SE) have jointly published an Animal
Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain, which was launched in June 2004.
The overall aim of the 10-year strategy is “To improve the health and welfare
of animals kept by man, and protect human health from animal disease”. It
focuses on five strategic outcomes, each of which is interrelated and clearly
demonstrates the need for industry, government and others to work together. These strategic outcomes are as follows:
•
A clear understanding of costs and benefits of animal health and welfare;
•
A clear understanding of roles and responsibilities;
•
A new partnership approach;
•
Promotion of animal health and welfare – prevention is better than cure; and
• Effective delivery and enforcement.
The
strategy is underpinned by implementation plans for each of the three countries.
The implementation plan for Wales was issued in December 2003 and in November
2004, the Minister for Environment, Planning and the Countryside (EPC), Carwyn
Jones AM, announced the setting up of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy
Steering Committee to oversee the implementation of the strategy in Wales.
The Welsh Assembly Government has recently released an Animal Health and
Welfare Strategy action plan for 2005/06, see link.
The role of the Steering Committee
for the Implementation of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy in Wales is as
follows:
1. To advise the Welsh Assembly Government on taking forward the GB Animal Health and Welfare Strategy– Implementation Plan in Wales.
2. To oversee and guide the work of the technical sub–groups set up under the Animal Health and Welfare Implementation Plan for Wales.
3. To assist the Welsh Assembly Government in promoting appropriate developments under the Implementation Plan and support efforts to encourage the up take of the initiatives developed under the Plan.
4. To advise on engagement with the current and future generation of the farming community and delivery of appropriate training and development requirements.
5. To advise on the identification and dissemination of best practice and relevant research.
At the inaugural Steering Committee meeting it was decided to set up a sub group to advise on the development and arrangements for the implementation of animal health plans, which were identified as being a key instrument for achieving the aims of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy. The Animal Health Plan Sub Group comprises representatives of the Organic Centre Wales, Hybu Cig Cymru, State Veterinary Service, Milk Development Council, Assembly Government’s Technical Unit, British Veterinary Association and Welsh Lamb and Beef Promotions.
The Animal Health Planning Sub Group has now met twice (20th April and 9th June 2005) to discuss the best way forward for encouraging animal health and welfare planning across all farms in Wales.
A priority issue for the organic
industry with regard to rolling out health planning across Wales was that
organic farmers should not be disadvantaged in any way by new measures being
developed. It is essential that
organic farmers should not be required to duplicate any paper work related to
health planning and what they are currently doing (as long as it meets organic
certification standards) should be acceptable within national guidelines.
It was agreed by other members of the Animal Health Planning Subgroup
that this should be the case.
Whilst many health plans are all ready in existence, it was felt by the group that some were aimed more towards record keeping and not continuous improvement of animal health. The Group agreed therefore to establish key principles that should be included in animal health plans in order to facilitate on-going improvement in animal health and welfare. It was acknowledged that by agreeing to certain key elements that must be included in animal health plans it would ensure that the initiative could be delivered by any method preferred by the individual farmer and organic farmers would not be disadvantaged in any way as they are all ready fulfilling the key principles of animal health planning as a requirement for certification. The key principles were extracted from a number of existing health plans, including examples of organic animal health plans.
The following key principles, under the broad heading of 'prevention is better than cure', were agreed:
1. Baseline (what is the current health and welfare status on the farm)
2. Prioritize and identify problems
3. Targets/Outcomes (that are measurable)
4. Strategy (how to deal with problems)
5. Monitoring (have targets been achieved? If not, new strategies need to be developed)
A generic health plan based on these principles is currently under development by the Subgroup and will eventually be made available to all livestock farmers in Wales to assist in their health planning if wish.
Health planning will be entirely voluntary for non-organic farmers in Wales, though farmers will be strongly encouraged by industry bodies, quality assurance organizations and vets to participate so that significant improvements in farmed animal health and welfare can be achieved across Wales.
Actions for 2005 - 06:
(ii)
Generic Health Plan to be
agreed by 30 June 2005.
(iii)
Sector specific voluntary
Animal Health Plans to be developed by
31
December 2005.
(iv)
Proposals to deliver the
voluntary Animal Health Plans to be agreed by the
Animal
Health and Welfare Strategy committee by 31 March 2006.
A
scheme encouraging voluntary animal health and welfare planning by all livestock
farmers will be rolled out in Wales in 2006. As
certification bodies already require animal health plans as a requirement for
certification, organic farmers are one step ahead of the game all ready.
The principles of identifying health issues on the farm, setting targets
for improvement and monitoring for successful improvement are all inherent in
organic health plans and therefore organic farmers will not be required to do
anything in addition to meeting the health planning requirements of their
certification body.
Prepared
by Pip Nicholas
On
behalf of Organic Centre Wales
21
July 2005
Documents
to be found at Welsh Assembly Government website
Animal Health and Welfares Strategy for Great Britain (pdf 1.4 MB)
Animal Health and Welfares Strategy for Great Britain - Summary Leaflet (pdf 944 kb)
Wales Action Plan 2005/06 (pdf 330 kb)