Anyone failing in their duties to meet the health and welfare needs of their animals will be prosecuted, wherever possible, Deputy Minister for Food and Farming, Rebecca Evans, has said.
The warning follows the publication of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) report into the number of prosecutions taken under the Animal Health Act 1981 which revealed that in 2014, there were 11 convictions in Wales resulting in over Ā£68,000 in fines and associated costs.
Rebecca Evans said:
āHigh standards of animal health and welfare help to sustain a profitable and professional farming industry. These convictions are isolated cases and the vast majority of animal owners take their responsibilities seriously. However, any breaches of the Animal Health Act will not be tolerated and we will work with local authorities and APHA to take action where possible against anyone who fails to meet the health needs of their animals.
āThe Welsh Government is committed to ensuring that all animals in Wales have a high standard of health and welfare. Last year, I launched our new Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework which is building on 9 years of work following devolution of powers in this area. In 2006 we gave Local Authorities more powers to prosecute individuals for offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.”
If anyone has concerns that farmed animals are not receiving adequate care they should contact the local the Local Authority Trading Standards Department.
The full report can be found on theĀ National Assembly for Wales websiteĀ (external link).
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