ABOUT FAWC
1. The Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) is an independent advisory body established by 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 place of slaughter; and to advise the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales of any legislative or other changes that may be necessary.
2. Members are drawn from a wide range of disciplines and serve in a personal capacity, not as representatives of any organisation or interest group. They include farmers, veterinarians, animal welfarists, consumers and researchers.
3. FAWC commences studies for a variety of reasons. There may be public concern about a particular issue, the Agriculture Departments may request advice or the Council may itself decide that a subject warrants review. FAWC's approach is to give close consideration to the way in which the use of farm animals affects the welfare of the animal and to suggest reasonable and practical principles and procedures to ensure that their well being is not unacceptably challenged.
4. Studies are carried out by small working groups of members who undertake the detailed analysis and prepare recommendations for approval by the whole Council. When embarking on a new topic, FAWC consults the full range of interest groups including the farming industry, animal protection organisations and research institutes. Members carefully consider responses to consultation and detailed written and verbal evidence from invited experts; they examine scientific data; and visit farms and research centres.
5. Most reviews culminate in published reports which are widely distributed throughout the UK and overseas. As part of the pre-publication procedure, and in addition to those meetings which take place as members gather background, discussions take place with key farming, animal welfare and veterinary organisations before reports are finalised. The launch of our reports is normally accompanied by a press conference.
6. Reports are primarily addressed to GB Agriculture Ministers and, in due course, the Government publishes a formal response.
Farm Animal Welfare Council: Tel: 0181 330 8031
Fax: 0181 335 4274