Animal health and welfare

Introduction to Animal health and welfare

The health and welfare of animals is central to Defra's work of protecting and improving livestock and controlling and eradicating disease. The Animal Health and Welfare pages are divided into various subject areas each with its own ‘Home page’ and ‘Latest news’ section. These are detailed below:

Animal by-products - Information on the disposal of animal by-products and catering waste.

Animal health and welfare strategy - Information on the introduction of a national strategy for animal health and welfare policies in Great Britain, to be developed jointly by Defra, the Scottish Assembly and Welsh Assembly Government

Animal welfare - Information relating to Farm Animal Welfare (On Farm, Markets, Transport, Slaughter, Farm Animal Welfare Council).

BSE - Information on BSE and other TSEs.

Disease surveillance and control - Information on notifiable diseases in Great Britain, zoonoses and veterinary surveillance. Advice on biosecurity best practice for all who come into contact with farm animals.

Foot and mouth disease - information about the disease, the 2001 epidemic and the Government's response to the FMD inquiries.

Government Veterinary Journal - An official journal of Defra and is the UK journal specialising in State Veterinary Medicine.

Identification and tracing - Information on identification, registration and tracing of farm animals.

Personal food and plant imports - Information which aims to reduce the risk of exotic animal diseases, plant pests and diseases entering the country and then threatening our public health, livestock, agriculture and horticultural industries and the environment.

International trade - Animal and public health aspects of imports and exports of live animals, meat and animal products, including advice to travellers.

Livestock movements - Information on the changes to the rules for livestock movements.

Rabies - Information on rabies prevention in the UK including rabies quarantine, the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) and information on the controls in the event of a rabies outbreak.

Scrapie - Information about this fatal progressive neurological disorder of sheep, including the National Scrapie Plan.

Tuberculosis - Information on tuberculosis in cattle.

Veterinary Instructions, Procedures and Emergency Routines (VIPER) - The State Veterinary Service (SVS) Service Manual containing the 'Chapters' which form the central instructions.

Veterinary Training Research Initiative (VTRI) - An initiative to encourage both students and practising vets to get involved in research that could prevent or halt outbreaks of animal disease.

See also

• Chief Veterinary Officer - Information regarding Debby Reynolds and her work.
• State Veterinary Service
• Veterinary Laboratories Agency
• Veterinary Medicines Directorate
• Government Veterinary Surgeons
• Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee
• Farm Animal Welfare Council
• Companion Animal Welfare Council