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.
- End -
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