The Welsh government has published its latest plan for improving animal health and welfare, with a big emphasis on improving biosecurity.
Avian influenza prevention through scrupulous biosecurity makes up one of the main pillars of the plan, in light of the significant current outbreak across Europe.
Higher standards of health, welfare and biosecurity would help promote international trade, said rural affairs minister Lesley Griffiths, in the plan, which covers 2022-24.
“The landscape has changed dramatically since leaving the EU and the coronavirus pandemic has certainly tested our resilience,” she said.
“Reviving and relaunching our Implementation Plan now provides an opportunity to put animal health and welfare at the forefront in addressing the issues and challenges we face in a sustainable, collaborative and coherent way.
“We want every animal in Wales to have a good quality life and this is reflected in our Programme for Government, giving us an opportunity to build on all we have achieved since animal health and welfare powers were devolved to Wales.
“This Implementation Plan complements the five-year Animal Welfare Plan for Wales which was published in November. The strategies and actions contained in each are integrated and interdependent, demonstrating our determination to work in a co-ordinated way.
“Our proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme will also have animal health and welfare as a key component, drawing on our collective ambition to further enhance Wales’ reputation as a nation which loves, cares for and respects its animals.
“The scope of this Implementation Plan is wide ranging and through real collaborative working, I am confident we can continue to raise animal health and welfare standards.”
The Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Implementation Plan 2022-24 can found at: https://gov.wales/animal-health-and-welfare-framework-implementation-plan-2022-2024
