Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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Consultation on education, communication and knowledge application in farm animal welfare

Consultation on education, communication and knowledge application in farm animal welfare

DEPARTMENT FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service. 18 September 2008

Issued by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on behalf of The Farm Animal Welfare Council

The Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) has set up a Working Group to examine how education and communication can positively affect the welfare of farmed animals. This working group will identify and critically review mechanisms for:

* Promoting responsible attitudes amongst schoolchildren and students in higher education;

* Better informing consumers and policy makers about welfare issues;

* Promoting application of existing knowledge amongst producers

Chairman of FAWC, Professor Wathes said "Although FAWC's primary remit is to provide advice to Government it does communicate with other bodies. It also recognises that delivery of animal welfare improvements may be better achieved by partnership working as outlined in the GB Animal Health and Welfare Strategy. The scope of this study is therefore not limited to Government activities. The Working Group is also mindful of the possible links with animal welfare goals for non-farmed animals and will comment on wider applications where relevant. The study is a logical successor to previous FAWC advice to Government on farm assurance schemes (2005), labelling food according to welfare provenance (2006) and on stockmanship (2007)"

Comments are now being sought from interested parties. These should be sent to the address or e-mail below by 24 October 2008. Copies of the consultation letter are available to download from http://www.fawc.org.uk. Once approved by the full Council, the report will be submitted to Ministers and published. The Group will be chaired by Dr David Main assisted by Professor Henry Buller, Mr George Hogarth, Professor Michael Reiss, Ms Alison Ward and Mrs Meryl Ward.

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Notes for Editors

1. The Farm Animal Welfare Council is an independent, Non-Departmental Public Body. It was established by Government in 1979 to keep under review the welfare of farmed animals on agricultural land, at market, in transit and at the place of slaughter; and to advise the Government of any legislative or other changes it considers necessary.

2. FAWC is chaired by Professor Christopher Wathes who holds the Chair of Animal Welfare at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London.

3. More information about FAWC is available from the address and website below.

FAWC Secretariat
Area 5A, 9 Millbank
17 Smith Square
London
SW1P 3JR
Tel. 0207 238 5124

Email:fawcsecretariat@defra.gsi.gov.uk Website: http://www.fawc.org.uk

FAWC, 9 Millbank, c/o 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR Tel: 020 7238 5124 Fax: 020 7238 3169

Chairman: Professor Christopher Wathes, BSc, PhD FAWC website: http://www.fawc.org.uk

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