The Animal Health and Welfare Framework 2015- 2017 is a national framework that seeks to ensure effective, accountable, consistent and coordinated delivery of animal health and welfare services throughout England and Wales, while protecting society, the economy and the environment from the effect of animal diseases. The framework is intended to be flexible, whilst incorporating agreement on the principles of how the service is to be delivered. It fully recognizes the autonomy of local authorities. The framework aims to enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems by strengthening policies and strategies for animal health including better cooperation between everyone involved in animal health and welfare, including Government, local authorities, animal owners and veterinarians. The intended outcomes of the Framework are to: i. effectively reduce the risk of animal disease incursion and spread, thereby protecting public and animal health; ii. improve animal welfare; iii. promote a joined-up approach between all agencies involved in animal health and welfare; iv. improve provision of management information to local and national government on the delivery of animal health and welfare services, and to allow the UK to fulfil its obligations to the European Union; v. meet the objective of delivering and enforcing standards, of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy; and, vi. protect local communities, including the effects on the local economy. To this end, priority activities include: risk assessment for the premises in accordance with national risk scheme, training for new officers on Animal Health and Welfare and on-going professional development for existing staff, full recordings of animal movements (Wales only) for 95% of live movements and 80% of slaughter movements, issuing of specific animal movement licenses on AMLS2, enforcement activities to maximize Animal Health and Welfare compliance including attendance at Critical Control Points such as livestock markets, sales, collection centers and assembly centers, slaughter houses, dealers, ports, and high risk farms. Efforts will also be focused on fostering partnership working and intelligence driven enforcement. To this end, the activities will include provision and collection of intelligence information as well as identifying breaches of legislation including biosecurity, licensing, welfare, livestock identification, standstill breaches, illegal imports, by products, and other disease control work. Contingency planning and emergency action is another area of focus which includes emergency preparedness, practicing and evaluating activities in relation to the emergency plan, and provision of full emergency range of services under the emergency plan, when disease emergency declared by Defra/Welsh Government. Regarding governance, the implementation of the strategy will follow a joint approach which is considered vital to the success of the Framework. The partnership will encompass the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra), the National Animal Health and Welfare Panel (NAHWP), local authorities, and the Welsh Government. APHA, as the main coordinating structure, is expected to: Communicate Defra/Welsh Government policy and priority updates to Operations Directors in England and Wales (following discussion and agreement with Defra/ Welsh Government colleagues on national issues); Provide strategic leadership of animal health issues to local authorities; Provide an overview of the national performance picture; Provide guidance to Operations Directors and nominated local representatives; and Collate statutory returns, and any other occasional returns which may be required.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland · 2015-11-01