Memorandum submitted by the National Pig
Association
1. Cruelty
The National Pig Association welcomes the intention
of the Animal Welfare Bill to extend the duty of care for companion
animals into line with the level of protection currently given
to farmed animals. It is essential that the enforcement of high
health and welfare standards can be extended across the entire
pig population to include pet pigs, not just those in commercial
production.
2. Offence
We note clause 1, subsection (4) prohibits the
mutilation of any protected animal unless the mutilation has been
exempted from the general prohibition by an order made from the
appropriate national authority under subsection (5) and that this
exemption is intended to come into force on the same day as this
provision. The NPA would urge the EFRA Committee to press Ministers
for a reassurance that current procedures for pigs, such as tail
docking, which are allowed by EU law for welfare reasons under
veterinary management, can continue under the draft Animal Welfare
Bill.
3. Regulations to promote welfare
We welcome the new provision covering the identification
of animals, which under clause 6 subsection (2)(i) of the draft
Bill refers to activities, which may require registration "where
it is necessary for the enforcement authority to know of the existence
and location of organisations or individuals who are keeping specific
animals . . ." Although currently all owners or keepers of
pigs must supply information to the local Divisional Veterinary
Officer about the holding, these new additional powers will help
to avoid the delays and difficulties in locating "pet pigs",
which impeded the lifting of movement restrictions during the
2000 classical swine fever.
4. Summary
The National Pig Association welcomes the extension
of the duty of care to all animal keepers in the proposed measures,
seeks an assurance from government that current procedures for
pig welfare management can continue, and that in the enforcement
of high health and welfare standards, any new regulations are
based on a sound scientific basis with the observance of strict
biosecurity protocols in the powers for the inspections of premises.
24 August 2004
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