FSA 22-09-14 - Annual Animal Welfare Report 2021/22
FSA 22-09-18 Animal Welfare Report Annex 1
England and Wales specific
The Animal Welfare Steering Group is comprised of representatives from the FSA, Defra, Welsh Government, and Devolved Administrations. The steering group monitors outstanding actions and identifies new activities on an ongoing basis as part of its governance and oversight role.
1. Animal Welfare Action Plan – actions completed 01/04/21 to 01/03/22
Strengthening verification and compliance
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Conduct Animal Welfare themed audit |
Developed audit framework in liaison with Defra and Welsh Government. |
| Support industry during Covid-19 | Implementation of Covid-19 ‘exceptional circumstances’ guidance allowing extensions of temporary Certificates of Competence. |
| Evaluate the impact of Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009, Annex II | Conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of FSA guidance on compliance rates and impact to industry. |
| Demonstration of Life | Introduced the Demonstration of Life protocol that aims to reduce the number of small ruminant animals that are slaughtered without prior stunning whilst maintaining halal compliance. |
| Implement refinements to referrals for investigation process | Introduced a triage process whereby a panel of experts oversee animal welfare cases that could be prosecutable, to ensure proportionality and consistency of approach. |
Clarifying accountability and improving collaboration
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Establish joint Working Group with APHA and LAs |
Strengthened data sharing to support welfare improvements throughout the supply chain. Identify key areas of welfare non-compliances and work collaboratively towards improvement initiatives. |
| Agree 2021/2022 Animal Welfare Service Level Agreement (SLA) | SLA agreed with Defra and Welsh Government Key Performance Indicators developed and agreed. |
Improving education and instruction
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Improve guidance relating to TCoC | Worked with Defra to enhance post Covid-19 policy guidance relating to extending applications for temporary Certificates of Competence. |
| Produce technical guidance (TEC files) relating to poultry catching and transport | Produced Poultry Welfare Special Edition relating to: Catching, Transport, Overstocking, Protection from adverse weather during transport, Trappings, Fractures, dislocations and bruising, Crate damage and maintenance, Dead on arrival, Delayed slaughter or unloading. |
| Referrals guidance | Supported APHA development of best practice guidance about referring farm and transport referrals to competent authorities. |
| Handling of covert footage | Developed a process for handling and viewing CCTV footage taken covertly by external organisations. |
Better analysis and reporting
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Enhance the animal welfare database | Refinements made to how referrals are generated and transferred to other competent authorities. |
| Improve data capture and reporting of Welfare Assurance Team (WAT) visits | Developed a new WAT inspection database. Enhanced reporting from the new WAT inspection database. |
| Board report | Produced 2020/21 Animal Welfare board paper. |
| Develop non-compliance, farm, transport and slaughterhouse open data | Implemented quarterly open data reporting of non-compliances. Format agreed through a working group with FSA, Defra, APHA and LAs. |
| 2022 slaughter sector survey | Engaged with industry on questions and process. Developed survey tool. Collected data. Supported Defra and Welsh Government on drafting the summary report. |