Animal Health and Welfare
Trading Standards, working in partnership with
the Welsh Government (WG) and the Department for Rural Affairs,
Food and Agriculture (DEFRA), is responsible for the enforcement of
animal health and welfare legislation at agricultural and
stockholding premises in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The importance of the service’s work in this
area was highlighted by the major impact that the Foot and Mouth
epidemic in 2001 had on the farming community and leisure industry
in the United Kingdom and the county borough.
The legislation is aimed at minimising the
effects and risk of transmissible diseases and infestations among
livestock and domestic animals and ensuring that the welfare of
animals is protected by avoiding pain and suffering of animals.
Inspections take place at the farm, at market,
and during transportation. Officers also ensure that the
movement of farm animals is controlled to prevent the spread of
disease.
Animals and the spread of disease are
protected by law from such ‘notifiable diseases’ such as Rabies and
Foot and Mouth.
The movement of certain species of farm
animals requires licenses to accompany their movement. Copies
of these can be obtained from our offices or
from DEFRA.