The Animal Health and Welfare Framework has been introduced to recognise the importance of central and local government working together. It has been created in partnership between the Scottish Government, Convention of Scottish local authorities (COSLA), the Society of Chief Officers of Trading Standards in Scotland (SCOTSS), the Society of the Chief Officers of Environmental Health in Scotland (SOCOEHS), Local Government Regulation and Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA).
This new Framework provides a risk based approach to animal health and welfare duties carried out by local authorities. It incorporates the full range of animal health and welfare work carried out by local authorities (with the exception of licensing of animal establishments, and any expansion of this under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006).
The Framework helps to meet the objectives of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain which recognises the benefits that enhanced animal health and welfare can bring in supporting industry profitability, promoting Scotland's reputation for quality and for improving the welfare of animals themselves. The Framework will support the implementation of the Strategy in Scotland by maintaining and improving standards in animal health and welfare.
Transitional Year 2012/2013
The Working Group of the Animal Health and Welfare Framework have agreed that further information on the framework should be made available to local authorities whilst it goes through a transitional year (2012/2013). This is to allow for investigative and mitigative work to be concluded prior to the adoption of the framework.
There are links to supporting information for local authorities on the Framework:
Transitional Year supporting document - highlighting the agreements of the working group.
Revised Timetable for the implementation of the framework.
FAQ’s to support local authorities in implementing the framework and AMES Database.