Animal Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain

The Animal Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain was launched in June 2004. The 10-year Strategy;

• acknowledges the need to take a more strategic approach to the management of activities undertaken by Government and others; and  
• highlights the importance of a partnership approach.

The Strategy aims to improve:

• the health and welfare of kept animals; 
• protect the public from animal diseases; and 
• protect the economic and social well being of people and the environment

It sets out a vision for animal health and welfare in Great Britain, showing where we want to be in 2014.  This is a strong challenge for everyone involved and the Strategy contains important guiding principles showing what needs to be done.

Wales Animal Health & Welfare Strategy Steering Committee

The Animal Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain was launched in June 2004.  The Animal Health and Welfare Strategy Steering Committee was set up in October 2004.  It was requested by the Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside, to oversee the implementation of the strategy in Wales.

For more information about the Steering Committee, including the minutes of their meetings, click on the link to the right of the screen.

Annual Action Plan for Wales

A Wales Action Plan has been developed in partnership with industry representatives on the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy Steering Committee. Their views are  taken on board where possible.

The Plan will take forward those aspects of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy (AHWS) over which Wales has direct control. It will represent what is being done and report on progress. The Plan will be updated annually in close consultation with Welsh stakeholders.

The fifth Wales Annual Action Plan 2009-10 has been published and can be viewed by clicking on the link to the Publication Index.

Tuberculosis (TB) Action Group

As part of mainstreaming our approach to the disease, the responsibilities of the former Wales TB Action Group have now been assumed by the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy Steering Committee. Countryside Council for Wales, Young Farmers' Clubs Cymru and Wales Environment Link have joined the Steering Committee in order to ensure all organisations once represented on the Wales TB Action Group continue to participate in TB related discussions.