Forum Brief: Animal Health and Welfare

Environment minister Ben Bradshaw launches a UK-wide animal health and welfare strategy. The proposals will detail the implementation plans for a 10-year strategy to improve the nation's animal health and welfare.

Forum Response: National Office of Animal Health

Livestock farming and production of good healthy, British food is of course very important to the rural economy. And companion animals are not just ‘pets’: there are assistance animals who help people with long term illness and disabilities lead more fulfilling lives. It has been scientifically proven that animals help people get better and help keep people well. They are good for children’s health, emotional development and schooling.

NOAH welcomes the publication of DEFRA’s plan for the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy in England. Animal medicines, responsibly used, form part of the backbone of the strategy.

NOAH is also pleased that the partnership approach of the RUMA (Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture) Alliance has been recognised as a means to bring stakeholders together. This work has already started, and NOAH looks forward to it continuing.

NOAH, together with the wider animal health industry, is able to provide Government with a huge pool of scientific and technical expertise, much of which is also freely available to others who use animal medicines. Our hope is that all the political parties will work together to ensure that the plan will be implemented effectively. Then the benefits will extend well beyond the health and welfare of farm animals, and the nation’s horses and pets, to help provide healthy food from healthy animals.

DEFRA’s stated intention of working with others is being translated from words into action, and we look forward to helping this process continue, to the benefit of the health and welfare of all of the nation’s animals.