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Animal Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain
Chapter 2: Vision for the future
This vision inspires the strategy and represents where we want to be in ten years.
Animals in Great Britain kept for food, farming, sport, companionship, entertainment and in zoos are healthy and treated humanely. Our disease status is amongst the highest in the world, and we are able to trade our animals and animal products internationally. The costs of livestock health and welfare are appropriately balanced between industry, and the taxpayer. All disease emergencies are dealt with swiftly and effectively using an agreed approach. Consumers value the confidence they have in food produced safely from healthy animals that are well cared for. Consumers and retailers accept that higher standards of animal health and welfare are not cost free. Livestock keeping is part of a competitive British farming industry which succeeds by meeting the needs of consumers at home and abroad, producing food safely and to high standards of health and welfare. |
We have identified the following strategic outcomes in the strategy which together will bring about our vision.
Working in partnership
Good communication and strong relationships between Government, its delivery agents, stakeholders and customers, mean that information and ideas are shared, activities and priorities are agreed and reviewed in partnership.
Government acts as a facilitator ensuring that activities and services are joined up, so that the relationship between all those responsible for the delivery of animal health and welfare is strengthened.
Promoting the benefits of animal health and welfare: prevention is better than cure
Animal owners can see the direct benefit of actively developing and using animal health and welfare plans.
Policies propose proportionate and balanced solutions based on risk and the implications for the environment, economy and society.
All animal owners have the necessary skills to exercise good practice, and veterinary services and medicines are available and responsibly used.
There is horizon scanning for new animal health and welfare threats, an active programme of veterinary surveillance and veterinary research and programmes to prevent imported disease.
Potential threats to animal welfare such as new biotechnology, novel husbandry systems and newly farmed species and genotypes are identified, assessed and effectively managed.
Ensuring a clearer understanding of the costs and benefits of animal health and welfare practices
The reasons for Government intervention are clear, justified, based on sound scientific evidence, and informed by real public wants and concerns.
Animal owners appreciate the wider impacts of animal husbandry methods on health and welfare, natural resources, biodiversity, the wider rural economy and the environment.
Understanding and accepting roles and responsibilities
Animal owners, Government and the general public have a clear understanding of the importance of animal health and welfare and where responsibilities lie.
Animal owners understand and accept personal responsibility for the standard of health and welfare of the animals in their care.
Individuals accept personal responsibility for their role in animal health and welfare and act accordingly when on farmland, respecting disease prevention and biosecurity practices and the British countryside and wildlife.
Delivering and enforcing animal health and welfare standards effectively
Practical, evidence-based information and advice is available to assist animal owners maintain high standards of animal health and welfare.
Up-to-date and tested contingency plans are in place and all emergencies are dealt with effectively using an agreed approach.
How these strategic outcomes will be delivered is shown in the Implementation Plans for
England, Scotland and Wales, which reflect the different priorities and institutional structures in each country. The plans explain why Government intervenes in the way that it does in a particular area, what activities are being carried out, by when and who delivers them.
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