Expert animal welfare body expanded to advise Government on future reforms

2 Oct 2019 10:20 AM

The remit of an expert animal welfare body which advises Government has been expanded to provide research and advice on pets, wild animals kept by people as well as farmed animals.

The Farm Animal Welfare Committee’s (FAWC) remit has been expanded to provide expert and detailed research and advice to Ministers on pets, wild animals kept by people as well as farmed animals

The committee has been renamed the Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) as of yesterday (1 October 2019). The committee will continue in its role as an expert committee advising Defra and the Devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales.

Animal welfare minister, Zac Goldsmith yesterday said:

We are a nation of animal lovers and this government is committed to taking important steps forward to strengthen our already high standards on animal welfare.

The committee has provided the government with invaluable advice over the years and I look forward to continuing work with colleagues as they broaden their remit to include pets and wild animals kept by people, as well as farmed animals.

The renamed committee’s priorities will include:

To mark this expansion the AWC is recruiting new experts. Further information on these is available on gov.uk.

Peter Jinman, Chair of the Animal Welfare Committee, yesterday said:

I welcome the expansion of the committee’s remit to advise on a broader spectrum of animal welfare issues and encourage experts with the relevant skills to apply for a role in this important new area of activity.