What is the Farm Animal Welfare Council?

The Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) is an independent advisory body established by the Government in 1979. Its terms of reference are to keep under review the welfare of farm 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 that may be necessary.

The Council can:

• investigate any topic falling within its remit.

• communicate freely with outside bodies, the European Commission and the public.

• publish its advice independently.

Latest advice

14 July 2010: Governments in England, Scotland and Wales have responded to the recommendations made by the independent review of the Farm Animal Welfare Council, published in December 2009. A copy of the response (PDF 45 KB) is available here.

1 July 2010: FAWC publishes its Annual Review 2009-2010 (PDF 2MB).

23 June 2010: The European Forum of Animal Welfare Councils (EuroFAWC) launches its website www.EuroFAWC.com.

19 April 2010: FAWC has responded to a Defra consultation on the draft Animal Health Bill (PDF 20KB).

10 April 2010: Christopher Wathes’s Viewpoint article “Lives worth living?” (PDF 650KB) is published in the Veterinary Record.

More advice..