Farm Animal Welfare Council Annual Report 1997
Welcome to the Annual Report from the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC). Previously, information about our work was summarised in a short, annual newsletter. The Council has decided that, in future, this information will be incorporated in an Annual Report that also includes details of our other Reports, membership and consultation procedures.
Last year was a busy one for FAWC and saw the publication of two detailed reports on The Welfare of Laying Hens and The Welfare of Dairy Cattle. Throughout 1997 the Council continued to consider a variety of topics in relation to farm animal welfare and to distil information from the farming community, animal protection organisations, researchers, consumers and others before making its recommendations to Ministers.
The activities described in this Annual Report can only be sustained by very committed staff and very active participation by all Council members. In addition to attending meetings of Council, all members serve on at least one of our numerous working groups, some as chairmen.
I am personally most grateful to all of them for their enthusiastic commitment to the careful consideration of the welfare aspects of farm animal husbandry and for their friendly co-operation in the work of the Council.
Since the Council is appointed by Ministers and financed by MAFF, I wish to put on record that the complete independence of the Council is always respected and, indeed, I believe valued.
signed
Sir Colin Spedding