Animal Health Act 1981: Expenditure and Prosecutions – 2024

Formal enforcement actions under the Animal Health Act 1981 and other animal health and welfare legislation by local authorities in 2024

Convictions achieved under the Animal Health Act 1981 and other animal health and welfare legislation

Notes:

1. This is the number of welfare visit undertaken which were programmed, part of planned interventions, or projects, or in response to complaints

2. This is the number of visits where biosecurity has been considered separately, outwith a general market or farm visit.

Number of complaints, service requests and livestock animals inspected

Notes:

1. This is the number of requests or complaints received which have required action or investigation by local authority animal health and welfare officers.

2. This figure includes request for service from consumers (not complaints), businesses and other agencies.

3. This is the total number of animals which were inspected or assessed in markets and other premises or holdings. This will include animals inspected for fitness, identification or health at markets and does not require that an examination takes place.

Summary of alternative enforcement interventions taken

Many local authorities (LA) reported attending the numerous local and national shows. Whilst in attendance, they also checked for identification of agricultural animals, equine as well as transportation was suitable. As well as speaking with farmers and other members of the public, they also discussed the importance of proper identification of animals with the agricultural show organisers to make sure they are aware of the importance of this.

LAs also participated and liaised with many others including Police Scotland, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspection Division (RPID), the Scottish Society for the Protection of Animals (SSPCA), other multi-agency groups, e.g. rural crime group, as well as LAs working with each other collaboratively across border.

Some of the work with APHA and RPID was on a planned and reactive basis such as for licensing/inspection of market premises, and to minimise duplication interventions/visits. Some of the work with Police Scotland related to visits on welfare matters and to farm premises. In one instance, RPID and APHA have been working with a LA to help them submit a welfare report to the Procurator Fiscal.

Other interventions included -

• Working with Police Scotland to deliver service remotely to the islands especially
• Working with RPID, Police Scotland, APHA and private forestry/landowners to address feral pig introductions.
• Collaborative working with other local authorities, and other agencies through animal health and welfare Panel meetings, Animal Health and Welfare Strategy Group, Framework Group, Markets Working Group and other similar forums
• Specific interventions carried out, working with APHA, and RPID where appropriate, to tackle issues and secure improvements, in advance of having to initiate formal measures to seize livestock. This has been used in various situations throughout the year, with successful outcomes
• Continued maintenance of anthrax incinerator which was a resource shared with other local authorities.
• Following a review of its resilience taken to mothball the anthrax incinerator, given difficulties on a suitably qualified and competent gas safety engineer. Decision highlighted to Scottish Government and APHA to highlight the need to consider an alternative arrangements at a national level.
• Following an incident of a high level of fatalities associated with transportation from an island market, meetings held with CALMAC, market operators and the haulage sector to discuss the situation, identify areas for improvement and initiate an action plan, to minimise any recurrence
• Specific work with the sector and CALMAC to minimise the possible disruption of markets and transportation of livestock, associated with ferry disruptions and late alternations to timetables
• Work carried out via the Council websites and social media to promote awareness of animal health and welfare issues. This has included updates and advice on avian influenza, promotion of the poultry registration scheme, advice on bluetongue and other animal diseases.
• Created a small local survey with a neighbouring authorities regarding views about sheep scab with findings being sent to APHA.
• Seizure of bovines under AH&W, voluntary by farmer.
• Attendance at road accident involving livestock transportation vehicle (multi agency).
• Visits to vulnerable elderly farmers with APHA to offer support.
• Information on Bluetongue given at markets
• Where dogs were found on premises for trade purposes information has been given to premise owners on new licence requirements for breeding.
• Regular email updates to animal keepers/farms informing them about the preventive measures to be taken in case of high risk of outbreak of disease i.e. avian influenza.
• A number of care notices and warning letters were issued to rectify issues which avoided the need for court proceedings.
• One LA would have seized several animals from a few farms however there was insufficient budget within the council to authorise the seizure resulting in numerous visits instead.
• A multi-agency round table discussion was arranged with the farmer who had received formal written notices. The farm vet, the SSPCA and APHA participated and subsequently, there was a marked improvement including the reduction in livestock numbers and more hands-on care by the farmer.
• New partnership with the Moredun Research Institute and East Ayrshire LA to promote knowledge and advice on reducing the epidemic of sheep scab seen in 2023/2024.
• We have worked with Caledonia Marts to ensure that their new mobile sheep-dipper (active only at certain events) is fully compliant with relevant legislation and operates at an acceptable standard.
• Officers were able to talk a livestock owner into voluntarily signing over their animals (cattle), rather than having to go down the enforcement route. This was a complex case involving mental health and other issues and the officers being able to talk the owner into voluntarily giving them up saved critical resources and allowed for a positive outcome without enforcement actions being necessary.
• We are upskilling staff within the Trading Standards team to discharge our statutory duties in an approach which is efficient and comprehensive (within the resources we currently have). We have open dialogue with APHA and RPID in terms of taking forward and being consulted on serious or complex case work.
• Ongoing collaborative work with APHA, RPID and Scottish Government regarding BVD eradication scheme to work with all farmers to improve those with poor record keeping, cattle identification issues, biosecurity and welfare concerns.

Notes: Alternative interventions are recorded to highlight additional work and areas covered. This may include attendance at agricultural shows, NFUS meetings; joint initiatives with APHA, police, SGRPID; leaflets and information etc.

Key Performance Measure

High Risk Visits

Average of high risk programmed visits inspected, 43.8%

Notes: This is the figure for High Risk agricultural premises visited by local authorities but also includes visits that have not been carried out as a result of these premises being visited by APHA staff as part of their pre-planned visit plan. As a result, this prevents penalising local authorities who are using a joined-up approach to prevent double visits by different enforcers for similar purposes.