Animal health and welfare recognised in new Agriculture Bill

Policies within the newly announced Agriculture Bill contain details of how the government intends to phase in a new system of public money for public goods over a period of seven years from 2020, and phase out the current subsidy system of direct payments to farmers relevant to land area. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has proposed “that the definition of higher animal welfare within the new public goods framework and the leadership role for animal health and welfare will be agreed in 2020”. Animal health and welfare will be considered as public goods that should benefit from this legislation.
The British Veterinary Association response came from their president John Fishwick, who said: “We are very pleased to see the move from direct payments linked to land area to public money being used for public goods. For some time, we have been calling for animal health and animal welfare to be recognised as public goods to help guarantee that standards in this area are maintained or improved post Brexit and it is reassuring to hear that they will be supported with public money in agricultural policy. If we are to maintain our global reputation for high standards of animal health and welfare, and improve our trade links with the rest of the world, as Mr Gove promises, any future investment in the UK farming industry must be targeted at measures to maintain and enhance standards of animal health and welfare.”