Animal Welfare
Animal Health and Welfare
Trading Standards, working in partnership with
the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) 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 the DEFRA website
http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/animindx.htm